A special weather statement for Whistler and Howe Sound was issued at 4:58am this morning), affecting Squamish, Whistler, Pemberton, and SLRD Areas C and D. It has just been upgraded to Severe Thunderstorm Watch by Environment Canada. (Effective 10:23am.)
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 BC south coast tonight. Some of these thunderstorms have the potential to become severe in the eastern sections of Metro Vancouver, Fraser Valley, Howe Sound and Whistler. 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 are likely to 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.