Severe thunderstorm watch for the Okanagan and Shuswap

Environment Canada has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for the Okanagan, Shuswap and Boundary regions.

Conditions are favourable for the development of severe thunderstorms that could produce heavy rain.

The strong upper ridge of high pressure that brought in the heat this week has moved into Alberta, causing the airmass to become moist and unstable over the BC Interior.

The main thunderstorm threat will be rainfall rates of up to 25 mm in an hour due to the slow motion of the storms, however strong wind gusts are also possible.

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Intense lightning is likely with any thunderstorm that develops and heavy downpours can cause flash floods and water pooling on roads.

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