Severe Thunderstorm Watch in Effect for the Okanagan

UPDATE (5:00 pm): Environment Canada has ended the severe thunderstorm watch for the South and Central Okanagan.

UPDATE:

Environment Canada has updated its severe thunderstorm watch to a warning and says we could see hail dime to nickel in size. Meteorologists are tracking a cluster of severe thunderstorms over central and south Okanagan. The storms will affect Highway 33 from Kelowna to Beaverdell.

The thunderstorms will also affect Highway 3A south of Olalla and Keremeos and regions east of the Myra Bellevue Protected Area.

Original Story:

A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for the Okanagan Valley and Similkameen by Environment Canada.

Conditions are favourable for the development of severe thunderstorms that may be capable of producing strong wind gusts, large hail, and heavy rain. The severe thunderstorm risk is expected to occur Monday afternoon and evening. The main threat for these storms is a heavy downpour which could produce 25 millimetres of water per hour.

Fast moving water across a road can sweep a vehicle away. Strong wind gusts can toss loose objects, damage weak buildings, break branches off trees and overturn large vehicles. Intense lightning is likely with any storm that develops. Stay indoors when a thunderstorm strikes. There isn't a place outside that is safe during a thunderstorm. Lightning kills and injures Canadians every year. Remember, when thunder roars, go indoors!

The thunderstorm watch includes Kelowna, Vernon, Penticton as well as the Similkameen. For the latest and most up-to-date information regarding the thunderstorm watch, visit the Environment Canada website.