Watson Lake residents can expect a mixed bag of weather this week, with daily shower chances and a risk of thunderstorms through the Canada Day holiday. Environment Canada issued a severe thunderstorm watch for the area at 6:05 p.m. MST on Saturday, June 27, and unsettled conditions are set to continue through Thursday, July 2.
The Environment Canada seven-day forecast shows a 60 percent chance of showers on Canada Day, Wednesday, July 1, with a high of 14°C. Thursday, July 2, brings the same 60 percent chance of rain and a high of 14°C. Overnight lows will dip to 8°C, right at the seasonal average for early July.
The best bets for outdoor plans are Monday, June 30, with a high of 20°C under a mix of sun and cloud, and Friday, July 3, when the chance of rain drops and temperatures reach a high of 17°C under a mix of sun and cloud. The Weather Network’s extended outlook confirms that intermittent showers could hang around through mid-July.
Watson Lake, a community of 1,133 people in southeastern Yukon, is one of the territory’s wettest spots. The town gets roughly 261 millimetres of rain each year, more than other parts of the Yukon, thanks in part to its position near the Liard River basin and the British Columbia border. In July 2024, a severe weather alert brought up to 100 millimetres of rain and thunderstorms to the region.
While the current watch means conditions are ripe for severe storms, no active warnings were in place as of Monday, June 29. Still, the Watson Lake Airport observation station will be tracking any quick changes in the weather. Anyone heading out for Canada Day celebrations should pack rain gear and keep an eye on the sky.
