TORONTO, June 22, 2024 – Hold on to your hats and leave the umbrellas at home this afternoon and into the evening, because Toronto is expected to get hit with heavy rains, high winds, and possibly hail. Environment and Climate Change Canada has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for the GTA. Areas north of the city (namely around Caledon) could get hit worse than those around the lake.
ECCC says, “Conditions are favourable for the development of severe thunderstorms that may be capable of producing strong wind gusts, large hail and heavy rain. “
Torrential downpours are the order of the day, so be prepared to take cover. And also we are being advised to secure lighter objects that may take flight during the expected up to 90 km/h winds. that may pass through. And with these conditions, in some areas flash flooding could also occur, so be careful out on the roads!
Canada’s most trusted weather source also warns that for those west of the “Golden Horseshoe” and areas on the south side of Georgian Bay there is a chance of tornadoes.
Tornadoes can not be ruled out
“Thunderstorms will develop on and off this afternoon in and around the GTA.,” reads the warning from ECCC. “The main hazards will be torrential downpours and strong wind gusts. A secondary threat will be hail up to toonie size. Tornadoes cannot be ruled out, particularly west of the Golden Horseshoe and for areas south of Georgian Bay.”
Quick facts
Hazard:
Nickel to toonie size hail. Torrential downpours. Up to 90kmh winds. Risk of tornadoes.
Timing:
This afternoon into this evening.
Flash floods
Remember, severe thunderstorms can produce tornadoes. Heavy downpours are likely to cause flash floods and water pooling on roads.
Toonie-sized Hail
Large hail can damage property and cause injury. Strong wind gusts can toss loose objects, damage weak buildings, break branches off trees and overturn large vehicles.
Lightning safety
Lightning kills and injures Canadians every year. Remember, when thunder roars, go indoors! Emergency Management Ontario recommends that you take cover immediately if threatening weather approaches.
Severe thunderstorm watches are issued when atmospheric conditions are favourable for the development of thunderstorms that could produce one or more of the following: large hail, damaging winds, torrential rainfall. Please continue to monitor alerts and forecasts issued by Environment Canada.
To report severe weather, send an email to ONstorm@ec.gc.ca or tweet reports using #ONStorm.
by Terry Lankstead with extensive notes and information from Environment and Climate Change Canada
photo by Daisy Gemma