Late season thunderstorm potential — Environment Canada
By The Nelson Daily Staff
Environment Canada has issued thunderstorm warning for parts of the southern interior, including the Kootenay region.
Environment Canada said a late season thunderstorm potential Wednesday with very strong wind gusts and locally heavy downpours the Fraser Canyon, North and South Thompson, Nicola Valley, Similkameen, Okanagan Valley, Shuswap, Columbias, Kootenays and Yellowhead.
Environment Canada said is calling for very strong wind gusts leading to potential broken tree limbs and power outages Wednesday — Wednesday night for areas east of Golden and Creston towards the Alberta border.
“A vigorous cold front will cross the province on Wednesday bringing with it very strong winds aloft and an unstable airmass that is ripe for the development of strong wind gusts, heavy showers and potentially thunderstorms,” Environment Canada said.
“Any thunderstorms that do develop will likely form a line resulting in the potential for repeated heavy downpours from multiple thunderstorms over the same area resulting in locally heavy rainfall totals.”
Environment Canada said boaters and watercraft users are advised of sudden strong gusts over lakes while motorists are advised of potential strong crosswinds over high elevation highway passes susceptible to crosswinds.
Environment Canada said potential thunderstorms with repeated heavy downpours leading to locally heavy rainfall totals, localized flooding or water pooling on roads with a a heightened risk of debris flows over areas impacted by wildfire burn scars.
Environment Canada said the storm could cause damage to buildings, such as to roof shingles and windows, may occur with high winds may result in power outages, and fallen tree branches and the heavy downpours can cause flash floods and water pooling on roads Watch for possible washouts near rivers, creeks and culverts.
