Rain well past the average of June
Photo: Cindy White
A rain-swollen stream flows into Lake Okanagan near Gellatly Bay in West Kelowna on Friday, June 17, 2022.
Thunderstorms are expected again on Sunday and Monday in downtown Okanagan, and this is likely to add to the rainfall totals for the month.
Between June 1 and 14, Environment Canada recorded 48.7 millimeters of rain at Kelowna International Airport. About 10 mm more have fallen since June 14.
“Our climatologist came in recently and gave us a report that has been wetter than normal, as you probably noticed, for June,” says Environment Canada meteorologist Ken Dosanjh.
“For the climate on which we base our 30-year average rainfall, we go to Kelowna in 1981-2010. On average, we expect about 45.9 mm of rainfall for the month of June,” he added.
But we are still a long way from the record rainfall of June 2012, when the Kelowna area saw 106.6 mm.
The short-term forecast predicts a risk of storms on Sunday and Monday, and unstable conditions could also extend into mid-week.
A high-pressure ridge from the southwest is being built in the region.
“This would usually mean a nicer weather right now. However, as it relies more on convection, there is likely to be a chance of showers with a risk of storms over the next few days,” Dosanjh explains.
“So with these precipitation bands, it’s more accurate. If you pass through Kelowna, you could predict 5-10mm of rain with an event.”
The ridge could break in the middle of the week, causing more showers. Dosanjh points out that it is too early to say whether a drop currently in the Gulf of Alaska that is expected to move to the Cariboo and the central interior will sink as far as Okanagan.