Thunderstorm watch issued for Okanagan and Boundary

Photo: Landon Hemmes Photography

UPDATE 4:55 p.m.

Environment Canada has downgraded its thunderstorm warning back to a watch.

The warning ended at 4:49 p.m.

The remaining watch means conditions still could generate a thunderstorm in the area.

UPDATE 3:20 p.m.

Environment Canada has upgraded its thunderstorm watch in the Okanagan and Boundary to a warning.

That means a thunderstorm is imminent.

The weather agency says, as of 3:13 p.m., meteorologists were tracking a “severe thunderstorm capable of producing strong wind gusts, up to nickel size hail and heavy rain.”

Communities in effect include Beaverdell to McCulloch along Highway 33.

Photo: EC

A thunderstorm heading for the Okanagan

ORIGINAL 10:45 a.m.

More lightning is expected to rumble through much of the Southern Interior Friday.

A severe thunderstorm watch has again been issued by Environment Canada for the Okanagan Valley, Similkameen, Kootenays, Boundary and Arrow Lakes regions.

"Conditions are favourable for the development of severe thunderstorms that may be capable of producing strong wind gusts, large hail and heavy rain," the bulletin from Environment Canada states.

"Severe thunderstorms are likely to develop late this afternoon and are expected to continue through the evening."

Thunderstorms produced about 1,000 lightning strikes within the Kamloops Fire Centre Wednesday and another 2,617 last night.

Residents in some regions of the Central Okanagan reported large hail falling during the storm.

"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