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By Vernon Matters Staff
Wind causes chaos

Windstorm breaks gust records, leaving many in dark

Jul 17, 2025 | 11:05 AM

A wild storm Wednesday night knocked out power to thousands and sparked a few small fires around the Shuswap and North Okanagan.

Winds hit 74 km/h, with lightning starting four small fires near Shuswap Lake and Highway 1.

Over 2,000 homes lost power in Vernon and Lake Country.

Most power was back by morning.

The storm smashed gust records in seven B.C. cities, including Lytton, Kelowna, and Revelstoke, according to Environment Canada.

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