A special weather statement for the Fraser Canyon (issued at 4:59am this morning), which affects Lillooet, SLRD Area A and Area B, has just been upgraded to Severe Thunderstorm Watch by Environment Canada. (Effective 10:11am.)
The Thunderstorm Watch advises that conditions are favourable for the development of severe thunderstorms that may be capable of producing strong wind gusts, large hail and heavy rain.
A Pacific cold front will approach the BC coast this evening. Ahead of the front, conditions will be favourable for thunderstorm development over parts of the southwestern interior, Columbia District and central interior of BC tonight. Some of these thunderstorms have the potential to become severe. The main threat of these severe thunderstorms are heavy downpours. Large hail is also possible with these thunderstorms.
Intense lightning is likely with any thunderstorm that develops. Heavy downpours can cause flash floods and water pooling on roads. Lightning kills and injures Canadians every year. Remember, when thunder roars, go indoors!
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.
Please continue to monitor alerts and forecasts issued by Environment Canada. To report severe weather, send an email to ec.tempetepacifique-pacificstorm.ec@canada.ca or tweet reports using #BCStorm.