At 9:39 am Thursday, Environment Canada has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Watch for Northwest Region of Bulkley Valley and The Lakes.
Current conditions are likely to create thunderstorms with strong wind gusts, large hail and heavy rain.
Environment Canada is advising residents to remember that “when thunder roars, go indoors!”
Fast moving water, large hail, and strong wind gusts can do serious damage to vehicles, loose objects, property, and people.
Prince George and northern Cariboo are also likely to be hit with severe weather.
This severe weather could lead to water level rising in the Bulkley River, consequencing in the BC River Forecast maintaining it’s Flood Watch.
While river levels have dropped slightly this week, flows are still dangerous due to the melting snow pack and expected storms.
Recent cooler weather should slow the snow melt, but the anticipated rainfall and thunderstorms could add anywhere between 30 and 50 mm of water per hour until Saturday afternoon.
The precipitations totals are unpredictable, so it’s hard for the Centre to indicate when the Flood Watch will end. However, because rain was not as heavy as expected Thursday, it is possible that the watch could be lifted sooner than later
There will be updates from both Environment Canada and BC River Forecast as this storms unfold. To report severe weather, email [email protected] or tweet reports to #BCStorm.