Dry lightning forecast in Southern Interior could pose challenge for wildfire crews

More thunderstorms with dry lightning are expected in the Southern Interior today, which could pose more challengers for provincial firefighters.

The B.C. Wildfire Service says on its Facebook page that 22 new wildfires started in the Kamloops Fire Centre yesterday, July 17, with all available resources responding today, July 18, including airtankers, helicopters, ground crews and rappel crews.

Yesterday's lightning activity over the Okanagan and Similkameen is suspected to be behind a majority of those fires.

While Environment Canada is forecasting a risk of thunderstorms late this afternoon or early evening in South Thompson and the Okanagan, B.C. Wildfire says dry lightning is expected in the Kamloops, Vernon, Lillooet and North Thompson areas. This is coupled with high temperatures across the Southern Interior, with Osoyoos being the hot spot in the province at nearly 34 C.

Not far behind that temperature is Kamloops, which is also under a heat warning issued by Environment Canada, warning of high temperatures in the South Thompson today.

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