Severe thunderstorm warnings for the Interior

Environment Canada has issued warnings for the South Thompson, Nicola, and Similkameen regions as well as the Okanagan Connector from Merritt to Kelowna, B.C.

A media release states that as of 2:50 p.m. meteorologists are tracking a cluster of severe thunderstorms capable of producing strong wind gusts, pea to dime size hail, and heavy rain just northeast of Princeton.

The clusters are moving northwards at 30 km per hour and will impact areas along Highway 3 from Princeton to Hedley, Highway 5A from Princeton to Merritt, along Highway 97C from Merritt to Brenda Mines, and along Highway 5A and Highway 5 from Merritt to Kamloops.

Weather in the mountains can change suddenly resulting in hazardous driving conditions.

Lightning kills and injures Canadians every year.

Severe thunderstorm warnings are issued when imminent or occurring thunderstorms are likely to produce or are producing one or more of the following: large hail, damaging winds, torrential rainfall.

Road conditions are available at www.drivebc.ca.

To report severe weather, send an email to BCstorm@canada.ca or tweet reports using #BCStorm.

For the very latest on watches, warnings and special weather statements go to Environment Canada's website here.

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