Simple forecast for the Okanagan this week: sunny and warm

OKANAGAN – July will come to an end and August will begin this week on a warm, sunny note.

Environment Canada meteorologist Bobby Sekhon says the Okanagan has been "fairly normal” in terms of precipitation in July, with temperatures also at normal levels. Kelowna had a wetter than normal July, with 14 more millimetres of precipitation falling than usual for the month.

Sekhon says there weren’t any extreme highs in July, with temperatures within a degree or two of normal most days.

“We haven’t seen the building of a strong ridge of high pressure since summer started,” Sekhon said, although a high pressure system over the valley this week should bring about some fairly dry weather, except for Wednesday, when a trough might bring a few drops of rain to parts of the valley.

For today, July 29, in the Okanagan, expect sunny skies with winds becoming northwest at 20 km/h this afternoon. It should reach a high of 31 Celsius in Vernon and Kelowna, 30 Celsius in Penticton, with an overnight low of 13 C in all three cities.

Tuesday should begin under a mix of sun and cloud with clearing later in the morning. Winds will become northwest at 20 km/h with a high of 29 C and a low of 14 C expected.

Wednesday, Thursday and Friday’s forecast can be summed up in a similar fashion, with sunny skies, a high of 30 C and a low of 15 C expected for all three days.

The August long weekend will get off to a sunny start with a high of 28 C and 29 C forecast for Saturday and Sunday.

Normal temperatures at this time of year in the Okanagan are highs of 28 C and lows of 12 C.

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