UPDATE: Severe thunderstorm watch issued for Okanagan and Kamloops

Thunderstorms with strong winds and hail could hit the Okanagan starting this morning, June 28.

A severe thunderstorm watch was issued by Environment Canada at 4:42 a.m. for the entire Okanagan Valley. The watch was updated early this afternoon to include Kamloops and the South Thompson region.

“Conditions are favourable for the development of severe thunderstorms that may be capable of producing strong wind gusts, large hail and heavy rain,” says Environment Canada.

The thunderstorm watch does not include Kamloops but the forecast for that city is a 60% chance of showers, a risk of thundershowers and winds gusting to 50 km/h by this afternoon.

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“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.

The online forecast for major Okanagan cities calls for five to 10 millimetres of rain.

Those forecasts show the storm front hitting Vernon late this morning and early this afternoon. It then moves south, reaching Kelowna early this afternoon and Penticton faces a risk of hail this afternoon.

Winds are forecast to gust to 40 km/h in the Okanagan.

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Temperatures throughout the Okanagan and in Kamloops are expected to reach highs of 25 Celsius today.

“Lightning kills and injures Canadians every year,” Environment Canada posted. “Remember, when thunder roars, go indoors!”

The forecast for tomorrow shows a 30% chance of showers and slightly cooler temperatures in most locations.

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

— This story was updated at 1:19 p.m. Tuesday, June 28, 2022, to include the South Thompson region in the watch.

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