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BUSINESS
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TRAINED AS A classical pianist, Jenie Thai is making her breakthrough into the Canadian music scene playing gritty blues.
COLUMNIST Maxine DeHart reports on a special anniversary celebrated this month at O Spa in Kelowna.
POTENTIAL future stars on the international tennis circuit will be playing in a tennis tournament this week in Kelowna with the hopes of improving on their world rankings.
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THURSDAY July 5, 2012 The Central Okanagan’s Best-Read Newspaper www.kelownacapnews.com
DOUG FARROW/CONTRIBUTOR
TEMPERATURE RISING‌The preferred words that weather watchers want to hear as the summer gets into swing—a high pressure ridge is building across the province—is being forecast for this weekend as local residents and tourists are starting to return to their favourite Okanagan summer haunts such as Hot Sands Beach in Kelowna City Park.
â–ź ENVIRONMENT
June’s rain expected to give way to July’s heat Now the worst storms have passed, it’s time to look at the sunny side of Kelowna’s rainy season. Among the highlights are the novelty of a record breaking year, lessened risk of wildfire in the immediate future, a robust Okanagan Lake and a solid start to storing up water for the coming dry season. Traditionally the wettest month of the year, Environment Canada meteorologist Doug Lundquist explained June’s showers washed away previous Kelowna records.
Total rainfall measured 107 millimetres, which is more than double the average 41 mm June rainfall and beyond the 1990 record of 103 mm. “We had extra storms,� said Lundquist. “Not everyone in the Interior got them, but we did.� Temperatures were correspondingly lower than normal, as well, coming in at an average of 14.6 C compared to the normal 16.3 C. That said, a corner has been turned and sunnier skies and higher temperatures are ahead. “The heat south of the border is rebounding and heading into our area,� Lundquist said.
“By early next week we should see temperatures in the mid 30s. It could be pushing the 40s in Osoyoos and Lytton.� It’s the type of weather that usually prompts the masses to head into the forests for various forms of outdoor fun. It also usually leads to a litany of warnings, but Kevin Skrepnek, a fire information officer with the Kamloops Fire Centre, said things are looking pretty good at the moment. “The fire rating changes from day to day,� he said. “Kelowna and most of the Okanagan is sitting at a low danger rating.� Skrepnek also pointed out that
when it comes to drying out the forest floor, a few hot days can be enough to spark trouble. “Weather forecasts across the board are calling for temperatures to skyrocket,� he said. “Chances are we will find the danger rating climb as it gets hotter.� Fact is, history indicates that a wet lead-in to summer doesn’t necessarily herald a smoke-free season. “The caution I’d offer is we’ve seen years, such as 2003, where the fire season was bookended by floods,� he said. “In the next 10 days, there’s not much if any precipitation, so we could be (back to) square one despite
having a wet month.� Water purveyors are a little less dire about what lies ahead, however, reporting no concern of shortages. One of the most vulnerable to drought is the South East Kelowna Irrigation District. Its water source is divvied up between agricultural and domestic use, with 80 per cent going to farms and 20 per cent to households. “We have a small watershed so we’ve had problems over the years when there’s been drought,� said Toby Pike, manager of SEKID.
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