Photo: Contributed

Wind and lightning are set to hit central and southern B.C. tonight, according to Navi Saini, fire information officer with the B.C. Wildfire Service. 

"Today a cold front is forecast to move across central and southern B.C., bringing gusty winds and scattered showers. There is also a 40 to 60 per cent chance of lightning in the southeast of the province," Saini said.

Wind and lightning can often cause concern for fire crews because the flames can move or spread spontaneously. 

Strong winds between 30 and 70 kilometres per hour are expected in the Cariboo and Interior regions, with thunderstorms expected in the Kootenays in the late afternoon, according to Environment Canada. 

Officials say it's unclear when thousands of people will be allowed to go home.

Evacuation orders for 100 Mile House and Princeton were downgraded to alerts on Saturday, allowing residents to go home, although with the knowledge that they may have to leave again on a moment's notice.

Transportation Minister Norm Parks told a conference call Sunday that the return to the Interior communities had gone smoothly.

"From our point of view, the entry was well planned and well executed," he said.

More than 30,000 people remained displaced by wildfires on Sunday.

The weather is making it difficult to predict when other evacuees, including about 10,000 people from Williams Lake, may be able to return home, said Saini.

"It's hard to say right now how close we are to allowing people into Williams Lake. It really depends on fire activity."

Across the province there are currently 152 wildfires burning.