Severe thunderstorm watch issued for the Okanagan

PENTICTON – Environment Canada says severe weather could be on the way for the Okanagan valley.

A severe thunderstorm watch was issued this morning, July 5, for the Okanagan, including Vernon, Kelowna and Penticton.

A watch has also been issued for Highway 3 from the Paulson Summit to Kootenay Pass.

Environment Canada says conditions are favourable for the development of severe thunderstorms that may be capable of producing large hail and heavy rain.

An upper low pressure system over Vancouver Island is creating a flow of moist, unstable air over the southern Interior. Environment Canada is forecasting thunderstorms to develop along the U.S. border to move northward this afternoon.

There is the potential of an isolated severe thunderstorm producing rainfall up to 20 millimetres, two centimetres of hail and wind gusts to 70 km/h.

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