UPDATE: Severe thunderstorm watches end

UPDATE: 2:00am June 30, 2013

The severe thunderstorm watches issued for the North and South Thompson, Shuswap and Nicola regions has been ended by Environment Canada.

No other watches and warnings are in place at this time.

UPDATE: 3:37 p.m. June 29, 2013

The severe thunderstorm watch issued for the North and South Thompson, Shuswap and Nicola regions has been ended by Environment Canada.

The severe thunderstorm watch continues for the Okanagan Valley and the Similkameen, including the cities of Vernon, Kelowna and Penticton.

Forecasters say the potential exists for the development of severe thunderstorms this evening with high wind, damaging hail and downpours of rain.

12:12 p.m. June 29, 2013

Not the greatest start to the Canada Day Long Weekend. Environment Canada has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for a big chunk of the southern interior.

A severe thunderstorm watch doesn't mean the nasty weather is a certainty. It simply means the potential exists for severe thunderstorms to develop this afternoon. The storms could come with large hail and damaging winds.

Environment Canada also warns the storms could produce heavy downpours.

The severe thunderstorm watch covers the North and South Thompson regions, the Nicola, the Shuswap and the Okanagan Valley.

You know what they say about camping in B.C.? Bring along tarps, lots of tarps.

To contact the reporter for this story email halexander@infotelnews.ca or call (250) 491-0331.