Severe thunderstorms with heavy rain, hail possible in Okanagan, Kamloops

The conditions are just right for the development of severe thunderstorms in the South Thompson and the Okanagan this afternoon and evening.

And because of that, Environment Canada has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for several regions  today, July 8, including the South Thompson, Nicola, Okanagan, Similkameen and Boundary.

The thunderstorms developing may produce strong wind gusts, large hail and brief heavy downpours.

The weather office says the thunderstorms are expected to be short-lived but do have the potential to produce pea to nickel size hail, along with five to 15 millimetres of rain.

Dry belt areas like the Okanagan and Kamloops are more susceptible to the heavy downpours.

“Severe thunderstorm watches are issued when atmospheric conditions are favourable for the development of thunderstorms that could produce one or more of the following: large hail, damaging winds, torrential rainfall,” Environment Canada says.

For the latest on the severe thunderstorm watch go to Environment Canada’s public alert page here.

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