Image Credit: CFJC Today / Kent Simmonds

By Dylana Milobar

THUNDERSTORM WATCH

Weekend rain brings severe thunderstorm watch for South Thompson

Jul 6, 2019 | 4:55 AM

KAMLOOPS — With the chance for heavy rain, Environment Canada has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for the South Thompson.

After yesterday’s showers, Meteorologist Trevor Smith says the Kamloops area could see even more rain today.

“So we’re putting that (watch) out for the potential to see localized downpours of 10-15mm. It’s not going to probably be widespread down to the valley floor, but some areas could certainly see up to 15 mm of rainfall,” Smith explains, “We put out severe thunderstorm watches with a slightly lower criteria for places like Kamloops because it is in the dry belt, and there’s a little bit less capacity for the ground to absorb all that water.”

The rainfall is expected to continue tomorrow as well, and Smith says given the dry spring, any precipitation is welcome and needed.

“The rest of the weekend as we get into Sunday, still looks like a very unsettled air mass over the Southwestern Interior, there’s still this upper low, this cool pool of air in the upper atmosphere around,” He says, “So we’re going to see lots of showers, with maybe the odd thundershower around the area. A few more millimetres of rain is probable for Sunday, and through Sunday night.”

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After the weekend, Smith says forecasts are predicted to change. He says there is a slight chance of showers, with mostly sunshine expected for Monday, and Tuesday.

“But things will change again as we get into Wednesday and Thursday,” Smith says, “There’ll be lots of rain over the coast and probably up over the Coquihalla. Down in the southwestern Interior dry belt though, probably just a chance of showers, with temperatures cooling off, and more cloud cover.”

Smith says this kind of rainfall isn’t totally unexpected for the area, and it looks more like June’s usual precipitation was just late.