The long weekend is upon us and while there will be ample red and white festivities, don鈥檛 expect blue skies.
Environment Canada says the weather is looking rather dreary this July long weekend for the Okanagan and Shuswap.
鈥淚t is going to be a mixed bag. We have an unsettled system over the B.C. Interior that is going to give us more clouds, and sun and more showers,鈥� says meteorologist Doug Lundquist.
鈥淲e are starting off the weekend today with some scattered showers and again tomorrow scattered showers with a high of only 21 c.鈥�
On a positive note, Lundquist says Sunday is looking like the best day of the bunch.
鈥�(There will be) a mix of sun and cloud and highs in the mid 20s. It is going to be pretty windy though, so I am thinking that even if it is sunny you鈥檒l want to be prepared to wrap up if you鈥檙e going out in the evening.
鈥淗opefully that wind doesn鈥檛 affect the fireworks, too much. Monday we鈥檙e back into the showery pattern and cool with a high of only 17 C.鈥�
This may be bad news for beach lovers and boaters, but great news for wildfire conditions.
鈥淚t was drier at the beginning of the month and we have not caught up yet so we really do need the rain to catch up to normal. Unfortunately that means rain over the next few days.鈥�
Lundquist says anticipated spring-like temperatures are below average.
鈥淭he average for this time of year is in the mid 20s. So for it to go from the high 30s, down to the low 20s and into the teens for highs is really a shock for us,鈥� explains Lundquist. 鈥淏ut, it is not unheard of for this time of year.鈥�
He could not yet comment on whether June鈥檚 weather was notable year over year, but he felt it was statistically near an average month.
鈥淭he numbers are not in yet, but I think we will end up seeing that we had some really hot periods and cooler periods so it will work out to about average,鈥� says Lundquist. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think we will go over average for precipitation over the next couple days either.鈥�
He adds that this cooler system will not stick around long as the long-range forecast shows hot weather and sunshine returning at the end of the next week.
鈥淚 am feeling a little grouchy as a weather forecaster, but the best day is looking to be Canada Day and I hope that sticks,鈥� adds Lundquist.
鈥淓xpect it to be cool, rainy and unsettled and plan for that. That way, if it is better than we forecast we won鈥檛 be disappointed and if it is as bad as we say, you鈥檙e ready for it.鈥�
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