The skies quickly darkened and began to crackle over Revelstoke after 3 p.m. Thursday, June 12, as a severe thunderstorm warning was issued for the city and West Columbia.
Power was knocked out for some residents and businesses across town for at least 10 minutes, as a curtain of grey cloud rolled in from the west and disappeared surrounding Monashee and Selkirk mountains.
The thunderstorm, initially identified about 10 kilometres west of Revelstoke, is heading northeast at 25 kilometres per hour, creating unfavourable conditions for currently being outdoors.
Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) is advising residents to take cover indoors and, if outside without immediate cover, to protect themselves from flying debris and hail.
As of 3:38 p.m., "Environment Canada meteorologists are tracking a severe thunderstorm capable of producing strong wind gusts, up to nickel size hail and heavy rain," ECCC says. "Severe thunderstorm warnings are issued when imminent or occurring thunderstorms are expected to produce damaging hail, wind or rain."
ECCC is also encouraging residents to go indoors at the sound of thunder, noting that Canadians are killed and injured by lightning every year.
Find updates by visiting weather.gc.ca/en/location/index.html?coords=51.001,-118.196 and clicking on "Severe thunderstorm watch."
