Wind Tangles Large Tent in Power Wires

July 17, 2025: One of the more unusual calls for North Okanagan emergency crews during Wednesday night’s storm involved a large awning, the kind used to cover cars or boats, that was lifted by the wind and tangled in overhead power lines. The awning remained suspended in the wires well into Thursday morning.

Large awning lifted by the wind and tangled in overhead power lines.

The storm brought wind, rain, and lightning to parts of the region, toppling trees, downing power lines, and closing roads.

A tree brought down a power line on Silver Star Road near Jackpine Road around 10 p.m., forcing a full closure in both directions until BC Hydro crews, already stretched thin, could make the scene safe for removal.

Armstrong Fire Department responded to two separate tree-down incidents on Schubert Road, while BX-Swan Lake firefighters were kept busy clearing branches from lines, responding to the Silver Star Road closure, and dealing with a small fire sparked by arcing wires.

In Vernon, multiple weather-related calls came in, including the incident with the airborne awning.

Thousands of homes lost power at the height of the storm. No injuries and only minor fires were reported.