Environment Canada says a storm system that swept through the south coast on Sunday, Aug. 16 caused more than 2,000 lightning strikes, and as the weather pattern changes, conditions leading to more thunderstorms could develop later this week.
Meteorologist Bobby Sekhon said this past weekend could prove to be the warmest of the summer for the south coast, but there were no new temperature records set in Sechelt or Gibsons.
Sekhon said thunderstorms like the one that passed through parts of Washington state, Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast are not “overly unusual” for this time of year when a high pressure ridge breaks down.
Sekhon also said very little of the rain produced by the system reached the ground, so much of the lightning activity was “dry,” which carries the greatest risk of sparking wildfires.
The BC Wildfire Service said early Monday that no new fires had been reported on the lower Sunshine Coast, but that it’s not unusual for there to be a delay between a significant lightning storm and fires being spotted.
The Coastal Fire Centre said crews were flying aerial patrols and the Fire Centre was monitoring reports from the public, calling it an “evolving situation.”
Sekhon said forecasters expected the weather to become cooler and wetter by mid-week with 10 to 20 millimetres of rain possible, and perhaps more thunder and lightning.
“With the shift in the weather pattern coming we might get more in the way of thunderstorms because we’re still seeing warm conditions,” Sekhon said.
Dry conditions prompted the Sunshine Coast Regional District to put the Chapman Creek water system, and some others south of Pender Harbour, on Stage 3 restrictions Aug. 8 and the fire danger rating for the lower Sunshine Coast was high as of Monday afternoon.
If you see signs of wildfire call 1-800-663-5555 or *5555 from a mobile phone.
