Severe thunderstorm watch for Shuswap, North Thompson

The conditions are just right for the development of severe thunderstorms today in the Shuswap and North Thompson regions.

Environment Canada issued a severe thunderstorm watch today, June 22, that covers a region from the North Thompson and Shuswap, including Salmon Arm.

“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,” the watch states.

Earlier today, the weather office issued special weather statements for the Okanagan and South Thompson warning the first hot weather of the year will hit this weekend and early next week with the mercury rising into the upper 20 Celsius range.

READ MORE: Heat cautions issued for Kamloops, Okanagan but heat dome unlikely

Environment Canada says there is a risk of heat-related illness.

The heat also means the significant upper elevation snowpack will begin melting and the runoff will trigger high flows in southern Interior rivers and tributaries.

A flood watch continues for the North and South Thompson rivers and their tributaries, including the Shuswap River in the North Okanagan. Kelowna’s Mission Creek is under a high streamflow advisory.

For the latest on the weather watch and other weather warnings, check out Environment Canada’s public alert web page here.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Howard Alexander or call 250-309-5343 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.