A drier-than-normal April in the Okanagan has meteorologists concerned, as summer inches closer and 20 C temperatures become more frequent.
Penticton, Vernon and Kelowna all failed to reach at least 80 per cent of their normal precipitation marks last month, continuing a several-week-long trend of drier-than-normal conditions.
“We’re in a long-term moisture deficit and really struggling to get past this drought situation that we’re currently in, from an agriculture point of view and forest fire point of view,” said Brian Proctor, a meteorologist at Environment and Climate Change Canada.
Kelowna experienced 11.9 millimetres of precipitation in April. According to records that date back to 1899, monthly averages for the Okanagan’s largest city sit at around 40 millimetres.
Although Penticton and Vernon experienced more rain than Kelowna, the communities still experienced just 76 and 59 per cent of their normal precipitation marks, respectively.
“We haven’t had enough precipitation over the last number of years,” Proctor said. “It is a concern, but the one good thing we’re going to get initially is that it’s looking pretty cool temperature-wise for the first part of May.”
The meteorologist said it’s looking like a “pretty normal summer,” as B.C. comes out of the El Niño weather phenomenon, but warned that a continued lack of precipitation could pose problems for the region.
“In terms of precipitation in the summertime, it tends to be pretty spotty anyway,” Proctor said. “In general terms, I don’t think we’re looking at any solution for the ongoing problems.”
Temperatures across the Okanagan this weekend, from May 3 to 5, are expected to be between 19 and 23 C, according to Environment Canada.
A 40 per cent chance of showers is in the forecast for Kelowna on May 6.