Summer heat is here to stay

Hot, dry summer weather has arrived in full force in the Okanagan, and it is here to stay.

“The Okanagan is a hot place; people are used to heat, but this is our first true heat of the summer,” said Matt MacDonald, meteorologist with Environment Canada.

Today’s forecast high in Kelowna (and Penticton) is 34 C, followed by a high of 34 C on Saturday and 32 C on Sunday.

“These temperatures are a good eight to 10 degrees warmer than normal for this time of year,” said MacDonald. “Not only are the daytime highs quite high, but the overnight lows are also high.” Last year on July 7, the high was 22.5 C. The record high for July 7 in Kelowna is 35.6 C, set in 1970.

Environment Canada issued a special weather advisory Thursday warning of the dangers that come along with the heat.

“As we’re entering a period of hot, dry weather, we want to alert people of the importance of staying well hydrated, seek as much shade as you can between peak sun hours, which are between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., and reduce your exertion and activity accordingly,” said MacDonald. “There is no precipitation in the foreseeable future.” Today at noon, a campfire ban for the Central Okanagan goes into effect.

No campfires will be allowed within West Kelowna, Westbank First Nation, Peachland, Lake Country, Joe Rich, Wilson’s Landing or North Westside fire protection areas. Campfires are never allowed within the City of Kelowna. The ban comes as a result of a consistently high fire danger rating the last few days.

“It’s as high as it can get in terms of the risk scale, (which) means fires will start easily and will be hard to control,” said Brent Watson, assistant fire chief with the West Kelowna fire department.

“We’ve seen fires starting near Kamloops and Penticton, and they’re usually about a week ahead of us, so we’re next in the crosshairs.”

The biggest concern right now is that the forests are so dry a small spark could start a major fire, said Watson.

“It’s really easy to get a fire going right now,” he said. “Until we have a significant weather change, we’re going to be in an extreme situation.”

GARY NYLANDER/ Nykoli Freyling, 7, of Lethbridge jumps off a diving platform at the CNR Wharf Park, also called the Old Ferry Docks, on Thursday morning. Nykoli and his sister, Shayla, 9, and their mother were enjoying a hot, summer day while visiting their...