UPDATE: Severe thunderstorm watch issued for Southern Interior

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN – We could see severe thunderstorms develop in the Thompson-Okanagan region this afternoon and evening.

Environment Canada issued a severe thunderstorm watch this morning covering the South and North Thompson, Nicola, Shuswap and Okanagan regions and upgraded it to a warning for parts of the South Thompson, Nicola and Okanagan regions for a short time this afternoon. This system has since moved east but a watch remains in place for much of the region with warnings for several eastern parts of the Interior.

The main threat from the storms could be a heavy downpour of 25 millimetres of rain per hour, according to the severe thunderstorm watch.

Strong wind gusts and moderate hail are also possible, forecasters say.

“Fast moving water across a road can sweep a vehicle away,” they say in the watch. “Strong wind gusts can toss loose objects, damage weak buildings, break branches off trees and overturn large vehicles.”

Environment Canada warns intense lightning is likely with any storm that develops and asks people to stay indoors when a thunderstorm strikes, adding there isn't a place outside that is safe during a thunderstorm.

“Remember, when thunder roars, go indoors.”

Thunderstorms moved through the South Okanagan and Similkameen on Saturday night, June 27, and Andrew Cobbin with Okanagan Outdoors took a video of a lightning storm which moved through the Penticton area. Check it out below.

For the very latest weather warnings and forecasts go to Environment Canada's website.

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To contact the reporter for this story, email Howard Alexander at halexander@infonews.ca. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.

— This story was updated at 4:15 p.m., June 29, 2015, to add the severe thunderstorm warning.

— This story was updated at 5:22 p.m., June 29, 2015, with the downgrade back to a watch.