More severe thunderstorms today in parts of southern BC Interior

The conditions are just right for more severe weather in parts of the southern BC Interior today. Environment Canada has issued a severe thunderstorm watch today, July 2, for the Central and North Okanagan including Kelowna and Vernon, the Shuswap region including Salmon Arm, and the Nicola including Merritt. The thunderstorms may produce strong wind gust, large hail and heavy rain. The weather office says the storms will heighten the risk of debris flows from area with wildfire burn scars. “Large hail can damage property and cause injury,” the watch says. "Heavy downpours can cause flash floods and water pooling on roads. “Water-related activities may be unsafe due to violent and sudden gusts of wind over bodies of water.” Severe thunderstorm watches are issued when the atmospheric conditions are favourable for the development of large hail, damaging winds and torrential rainfall, Environment Canada says. For the latest on the severe thunderstorm watch go to Environment Canada public weather page here. For the latest of road and highway conditions, go to DriveBC here. https://weather.gc.ca/index_e.html?layers=alert??? To contact a reporter for this story, email Howard Alexander mailto:halexander@infonews.ca  or call 250-309-5343 or email the editor mailto:news@infonews.ca . You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom mailto:tip@infonews.ca  and be entered to win a monthly prize draw. We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above. SUBSCRIBE to our awesome newsletter here https://infotel.ca/newsletter .