(UPDATE: 8 p.m.) - In unfortunate news for storm lovers, but good news for others, Environment Canada has ended the storm watch for the Okanagan.
All three cities pinpointed by EC — Kelowna, Penticton and Vernon — are no longer under severe thunderstorm watch.
(Original Story: 6:30 p.m.)
Clouds are compiling over the Okanagan Saturday evening with the potential for a severe thunderstorm, according to Environment Canada.
The whole of the Okanagan has been placed under a severe thunderstorm watch, with Kelowna, Penticton and Vernon all included in the watch.
Photos from today's thunderstorm threat in the Central Okanagan, BC!
— Zach |🇨🇦 (@Zach_wx) May 25, 2019
Once again, one certain storm took the main stage at 4:30 pm, & lasted a good 2 hours, producing heavy rain & strong winds. Tomorrow seems like the day for a thunderstorm! #BCStorm #StormHour #PhotoHour #Storms pic.twitter.com/6GpF1LgHhc
Environment Canada is calling the current conditions favourable for "bands of rain with scattered thunderstorms" expected to hit the Okanagan today.
EC is expecting 5 to 10mm of rain across the region with up to 15mm in certain areas.
Storm cells developing between Kelowna and Vernon will continue to move WNW this evening. These storms are producing heavy rainfall. Storms could hit Hwy5 Merritt to Kamloops by 7-9pm, storms could just pass Merritt but a direct hit in Kamloops looks almost promising #BCStorm
— LM/FV/Nicola Valley Weather (@valley_weather) May 26, 2019
Severe thunderstorm watches are issued when certain conditions are present for the development of thunderstorms with the potential to produce large hail, damaging winds or torrential rainfall.
"Showers with the risk of thunderstorms will continue through this evening and taper off by midnight," their alert reads.
A few strong storms are back-to-back with each other, moving west-northwest, that'll go north of Kelowna.
— Zach |🇨🇦 (@Zach_wx) May 25, 2019
Storms further to there south may also undergo intensification, which may impact Kelowna. This could be the main event of the day. #BCStorm pic.twitter.com/7xtzD9RNvF
The fire danger rating for some Okanagan cities are currently low. West Kelowna and Penticton have been rated to have a low fire danger rating for Saturday, though they are both predicted to increase to moderate danger by Sunday.
