Severe thunderstorm watch issued for Fort Nelson

Environment Canada has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for the Fort Nelson region.  See the full text of the warning below.

Fort Nelson
4:32 AM PDT Monday 20 June 2011
Severe thunderstorm watch for
Fort Nelson issued

Risk of severe thunderstorms later this morning and this afternoon.

This is an alert to the potential development of severe thunderstorms with large hail and damaging winds.

Monitor weather conditions..Listen for updated statements. If threatening weather approaches take immediate safety precautions.

A trough of low pressure over Northeastern British Columbia will combine with a moist and very unstable airmass to produce thunderstorms over the Fort Nelson region later this morning and this afternoon. There is potential for some of these storms to become severe. Heavy downpours and large hail are expected to be the main threats although strong winds and intense lightning are also possible.

The potential for severe thunderstorm is expected to decrease later this afternoon as the atmosphere begins to stabilize.

An upper disturbance advancing from the south is generating very strong easterly winds over the Northern Dempster highway. Winds of 80 km/h with gusts to 100 near the Richardson Mountains will begin to gradually ease tonight.