A severe thunderstorm warning was issued Monday afternoon for the Shuswap area. UPDATE: 5:54 p.m Environment Canada put an end to a powerful storm for the Shuswap region. UPDATE: 15:30 A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for the Shuswap area. The alarm was raised shortly before 3:30 p.m. on Monday, hours after Environment Canada put a severe storm watch in place for a large area of the Thompson-Okanagan. The area covered by the warning includes Chase, Salmon Arm and Sicamous. ORIGINAL: 9:53 AM Another severe storm watch has been issued for the Okanagan, Thompson and Shuswap regions. Environment Canada issued the watch Monday morning as heavy rain is expected – with up to 15 millimeters falling in an hour. A storm watch is in effect for the North, Central and South Okanagan, eastern parts of North Thompson, Monte Creek, Pritchard, northeastern parts of Nicola Valley, Monte Lake, Westwold and Shuswap. “Conditions are favorable for the development of severe thunderstorms today,” says Environment Canada. Possible wind gusts and small hail. “Severe lightning is possible with any developing storm. Heavy rainfall can cause flash flooding and pooling of water on roads.” This comes as the River Forecast Center has issued another flood watch for Mission Creek in Kelowna. Creek levels rose rapidly overnight and will continue to rise through Tuesday, depending on the amount of additional rainfall. High flow warnings remain in effect for many other rivers and streams in southern and southeastern BC. after up to 35mm of rain in the last 24 hours. A flood watch has been replaced for the upper Fraser River with a high flow warning as conditions around Prince George ease, but watches remain in place for the Nechako, Thompson and South Thompson rivers, and a flood warning remains in place for the Quesnel River east of Williams Lake; – with files from The Canadian Press
