Heat warning, risk of dry lightning expected for Merritt and area over the long weekend

Merritt and surrounding area will be shifting away from recent cooler temperatures and showers as a hot air mass is expected to blanket the region over the B.C. Day long weekend.

Environment Canada is forecasting a ridge of high pressure to move over B.C.’s southern interior. Meteorologist Lisa Erven says temperatures in the region are forecast to hit Environment Canada’s heat warning threshold of daytime highs of 35 degrees Celsius and overnight lows of 18 degrees.

“We’re looking at peak temperatures occurring over the Friday and Saturday time period, maybe stretching into Sunday,” Erven said. “As we move into next week, the ridge is going to flatten; that hot airmass will start to sink back south of the USA border. Our temperatures are likely to remain above normal but we’re likely to see heat warnings being dropped early next week.”

Along with heat comes risk of thunderstorms. Erven says there’s a risk for dry lightning in parts of the southern interior Friday evening (Aug. 2) due to instability and elevated moisture moving up from the south.

“We’re going to be watching the forecast as we get closer to that event,” Erven says. “Thunderstorm forecasting really does rely on some key ingredients. These storms are also very small-scale. We’re looking for subtle things in the forecast and atmosphere that can lead to that kind of risk.”

BC Wildfire Service