Thunder, rain on way to Interior

NEWS/ WEATHER — Get ready for thunder.

Environment Canada Tuesday issued a special weather statement for the entire South Central Interior of B.C. including the North and South Thompson regions.

An area of low pressure crossing the British Columbia Interior will produce heavy showers with embedded thunderstorms beginning Wednesday.

The thunderstorms may produce locally heavy rainfall with amounts ranging between 25 to 50 mm Wednesday through Thursday and have the potential to fall in short periods of time, said Environment Canada.

“The exact locations of the thunderstorms are uncertain but have the potential to become severe, producing lightning, wind gusts and hail.

“The public is advised to monitor future forecasts and warnings as warnings may be required or extended.”

The alert includes the South Thompson, North Thompson, Shuswap, Okanagan (Kelowna, Vernon and Penticton), Nicola, Similkameen, West Columbia, North Columbia, West Kootenay, and Cariboo including Quesnel and Williams Lake.

Environment Canada forecasts a 40 per cent chance of showers today (Tuesday) with an east wind to 20 km/h and a high of 27. Wednesday will be mainly cloudy with showers beinning late in the morning and a risk of a thunderstorm in the afternoon and evening.

High temperature will be 22. Showers and possible thunderstorms will continue Thursday but some sun will return Friday, followed by several sunny days with temperatures reaching into the 30s again.