Kelowna News

High temperatures, low humidity and the possibility of sporadic electrical storms has forestry crews on edge.

"We're in for the long haul," says Fire Information Officer Michaela Swan.

"We're looking at hot and very dry temperatures through the 10 day period -- with the risk of afternoon thunderstorms daily," says Swan.

For Swan, the daily threat of lightning strikes is not good news.

"In our high to extreme fire danger ratings, there is the definite chance of new wildfires," she says.

In the past 24 hours alone, at least six lightning triggered fires have been reported in the Kamloops Fire Region.

The 10 hectare Joe Rich Forest Service Road fire, near Big White, is one of the fires caused by Wednesday night's lighting storm.

Even before another thunderstorm rolls across the skies, the Kamloops Fire Centre is gearing up for a busy day.

"Many, many more fire reports are expected throughout the day as the daytime heating increases fire behaviour," says Swan.

Environment Canada Meteorologist Doug Lundquist says 30 degree temperatures are expected to stick around for the foreseeable future.

But several weak disturbances are moving through the prevailing hot weather pattern, any of which can trigger a thunderstorm, says Lundquist.

"That is what we had happen Wednesday with those really interesting thunderstorms through the Okanagan."

Lundquist says there is a risk Thursday afternoon and evening for another storm.

"The problem is these disturbances are so small and fairly weak, that beyond about two days it is hard to pinpoint timing. One day might be sunny, hot and dry, and the next hot and chance of thunderstorms," says Lundquist.

"There is a high probability of getting more lightning across most of B.C. for the foreseeable future."

The storms are not likely to bring any major precipitation, says Lundquist.

"There's no major rain forecast for our part of the province."