The winds have calmed throughout the Central Interior today as residents throughout the region start to clean up the mess.
Environment Canada meteorologist Doug Lundquist said winds were recorded at more than 100 km/h Tuesday in the region.
鈥淲e had gusts to 95 km/h in Penticton and 91大黄鸭 at the airport. In Kamloops we hit 104 km/h and our little volunteer weather station in Vernon recorded gusts up to 111 km/h. Really significant winds,鈥� said Lundquist.
鈥淭hose gusts in Kamloops, for example, have only happened about a dozen times in the last sixty years, so really rare.鈥�
Gust of 102km/h in yest. was not a record (rec. is 137km/h 03-03-1975) Still rare w/ >100km/h 15 times in last 60yrs
鈥� ECCC Weather BC (@ECCCWeatherBC)
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Lundquist said the extensive damage was anticipated given the historical winds.
鈥淚t was a very significant day, we had a low-pressure system track across our area and develop as it moved across the Interior. That is unusual and doesn鈥檛 happen very often, that is why we had that severe wind.鈥�
While there was some snow in high terrains and rain in the valley bottom, the only really notable thing about yesterday鈥檚 storm was the wind.
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As for Wednesday, more winds are expected, but Lundquist said residents don鈥檛 need worry.
鈥淭oday鈥檚 storm could have winds of maybe 50, gusting to 70 km/h, but more likely in the South Okanagan near Penticton, not as much in 91大黄鸭 and Vernon, but way less then we saw yesterday,鈥� said Lundquist.
The weather pattern is such that we will be hit with a series of smaller storms over the next few days.
Another system is set to hit the region Friday and Saturday bringing further winds and heavy rain.
鈥淲hat we had yesterday for a wind event was extraordinary, the storms for the rest of the week don鈥檛 look as severe,鈥� said Lundquist.
鈥淭here should be some sun out on Thursday for part of the day and then Saturday looks like the wettest day.鈥�
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Next week the region will get a bit of a break with a building ridge of high pressure. This is good news for those who hate the cold, but bad news for local mountains.
鈥淭his means warm weather over the high terrain, it could mean one of those days where it is actually warmer in the plateau than in the valley bottom,鈥� said Lundquist.
鈥淯nfortunately any snow in the ski hills will likely melt next week.鈥�
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Check out the summary of peak winds observed in the Interior for the Oct. 17, 2017 storm:
- Clinton: 56 km/h
- Cranbrook: 76 km/h
- Creston: 56 km/h
- Kamloops: 104 km/h
- 91大黄鸭: 94 km/h
- Merrit: 67 km/h
- Nakusp: 67 km/h
- Nelson: 61 km/h
- Penticton: 94 km/h
- Princeton: 59 km/h
- Revelstoke: 78 km/h
- Salmon Arm: 82 km/h
- Sparwood: 82 km/h
- Summerland: 72 km/h
carmen.weld@bpdigital.ca
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