UPDATE: Severe weather watch ended North Okanagan to Thompson regions

UPDATE: 12:00 p.m. June 23, 2013

The severe thunderstorm watch for the North Okanagan, Shuwap and Thompson regions has ended.

KELOWNA – Environment Canada has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for the North Okanagan, Shuswap and Thompson.

A thunderstorm watch doesn't mean that a bad storm is a certainty. It means the conditions exist that could produce severe thunderstorms with large hail and damaging winds.

The forecasters say the storm cells will develop this afternoon and this evening.

The thunderstorm watch covers the North Okanagan (including Vernon), the Shuswap (including Salmon Arm) and the North and North Thompson regions (including Kamloops).

The potential exists that some of these thunderstorms will become severe. Heavy downpours, large hail, damaging wind gusts and intense lightning are possible.