UPDATE #3: Environment Canada has ended the severe thunderstorm watch for the region.
UPDATE #2: The severe thunderstorm warnings have been downgraded back to watches.
UPDATE: The severe thunderstorm watch issued this morning for the Grande Prairie – Beaverlodge – Valleyview has been upgraded to a severe thunderstorm warning for some parts of the region. Environment Canada says the County of Grande Prairie near Beaverlodge, Hythe and Demmitt and the MD of Greenview near Wapiti and the Shuttler Flats Recreation Area are now more likely to see a severe thunderstorm.
Meteorologists are tracking a severe thunderstorm that could produce quarter-sized hail and damaging wind gusts in excess of 90 kilometres an hour. Based on the Doppler RADAR, that storm was 50 kilometres southwest of Beaverlodge at 3:30 p.m. and was moving northeast at 25 kilometres an hour.
A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for parts of the peace country. The Grande Prairie area including Beaverlodge, Hythe, Wembley, and O’Brien Provincial Park are included in the alert.
Environment Canada is forecasting the risk of thunderstorms into the afternoon. It adds that people should take the precautions if storm systems roll in.