UPDATE: Severe thunderstorm warning issued for Kelowna, most of Interior remains on watch

(UPDATE: Aug. 23 @ 3:35 pm) - While most of the BC Interior remains under a severe thunderstorm watch, the Central Okanagan is about to be hit by the storm.

Environment Canada has upgraded the watch to a warning in the Central Okanagan, with the following message:

"A cluster of severe thunderstorms are approximately 10 km to the southeast of Kelowna and are tracking to the northwest at 25 km/hr," the warning reads.

"These storms are expected to impact Kelowna and the surrounding areas within the next 15 minutes and will continue to be monitored."

(Original story: Aug. 23 @ 11:30 am) - As predicted by Environment Canada this morning, it looks like storms are coming this afternoon.

The forecaster has now put much of the BC Interior under a severe thunderstorm watch.

Among the affected areas are:

• Okanagan Valley

• Shuswap

• South Thompson

• Nicola

• Kootenays

• Fraser Canyon

Environment Canada said in a public alert that conditions are favourable for the development of serious storms.

That could include “large hail and heavy rain,” it added.

It added: “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.”