UPDATE: ‘Severe thunderstorm watch’ issued for Okanagan and South Thompson

Saturday morning's heavy rain warning has given way to a severe thunderstorm watch.

Environment Canada issued the watch for the South Thompson, Nicola, North and Central Okanagan.

"Conditions are favourable for the development of severe thunderstorms that may be capable of producing heavy rain," reads the statement.

"An upper low-pressure system moving into southern BC today will lead to increasing instability this afternoon. Isolated thunderstorm development is already evident. The threat of isolated heavy downpours delivering upwards of 15 mm of rain over a short period of time will exist this afternoon."

This is of particular concern for dry belt regions as heavy downpours can cause localized flooding, especially near sloping terrain.

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