Environment Canada issues special weather statement for parts of the Okanagan due to unpredictable rain event

Photo: Environment Canada

Weather alerts are in effect form the East Kootenay to the Central Okanagan.

Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for parts of the BC Southern Interior due to heavy rainfall in the forecast.

The advisory stretches from the East Kootenay to the Central Okanagan and North Okanagan, including Vernon and Kelowna.

Environment Canada says a low pressure centre over Montana will slowly make its way into southern Alberta Sunday night and remain through Monday and Tuesday.

Moisture rotating around the low will bring the potential for prolonged rainfall, with total amounts of 20 to 40 millimetres likely in the Okanagan.

A rainfall warning was issued for the Elk Valley, where 50 to 80 millimetres is possible.

Environment Canada notes there is some uncertainty about the exact trajectory of the low and that could have an effect on the amount of rain in the impacted regions.

A flood watch was in effect for the East Kootenay and West Kootenay regions and a high streamflow advisory was issued for the South Thompson basin Sunday, including the Eagle, Shuswap and Seymour rivers.

The system moving up from the U.S. is forecast to dump even more rain on parts of Alberta, with the Calgary area bracing for between 75 and 125 millimetres.