Environment Canada issues thunderstorm watches over parts of B.C.

A man uses an umbrella to shield himself from the rain while walking on the Stanley Park seawall across the water from downtown Vancouver, B.C., Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. (Darryl Dyck / The Canadian Press)

Environment Canada says parts of central and northern B.C. could see damaging winds from a possibly severe thunderstorm.

The weather agency has issued several yellow storm watches covering Prince George, Quesnel, Williams Lake and elsewhere, as a system of low pressure tracks south across B.C. into Friday evening.

It says severe thunderstorm watches are issued due to conditions that are favourable for such storms to bring damaging hail, wind or rain.

The watches say the storm could possibly damage roofs, fences, tree branches or “soft shelters.”

Environment Canada also issued a storm warning for northeastern B.C. around Babine Lake, which could see strong winds with gusts topping 90 km/h, hailstones the size of quarters and heavy rains.

The agency has also issued heavy rainfall warnings for parts of eastern central Alberta, with up to 70 millimetres predicted this weekend before easing by Sunday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 19, 2026