Toronto Dodges Severe Weather As Storm Warning Ends

You don’t have to be a meteorologist to know the recipe for this meal: take one almost unbearably humid day, mix with a cold front, set on high and wait. The result, in many cases, is severe weather that brings with it hail, high winds and even the risk of a tornado. All that and more was on the weather menu Monday, as Toronto braced for a possible storm that never reached the downtown core. But that didn’t stop Environment Canada from issuing dozens of severe storm watches and warnings for the GTA and most of the province.

Our thunderstorm watch ended just after 7:30pm, but areas outside the city didn’t escape quite so easily. There were reports of significant rain in Hamilton and Oshawa, where a cold front sliding through brought the kind of light show only Mother Nature can provide. It was just the latest from a smorgasbord of conditions felt across Southern Ontario over the last 72 hours.

Officials say thousands of people are still without power across the province after Sunday’s huge disturbance. Crews are working to get the hydro back on in Parry Sound and Huntsville. Wires were also knocked down in Minden and Bowmanville.

A giant branch broke off a tree by Danforth and Coxwell early Monday morning, blocking the road from sidewalk to sidewalk. Crews had to restore power after the branch ripped down some hydro wires.

Heavy rain due to storms may have caused a landslide in Ottawa on Sunday, sending a car plunging 75 feet into a construction site. Most buildings around the condo development have been evacuated, leaving residents homeless for at least two days. Officials say the ground is very unstable and could give way at any moment.

And Environment Canada sent crews to the Walkerton area on Monday, checking reports of two possible tornados.

It was all followed by the a day that had many feeling like a soaked sponge. Humidex values in the 40s made it uncomfortable to be outside for long, forcing the city to extend a Heat Alert it callled over the weekend. Just how hot did it feel on Monday? Consider this – at one point during the height of the heat, the humidex reading was a sweltering 45. That’s well above most other places on the continent and the world you’d generally consider hotter than Toronto on that scale – including Las Vegas (38), Cairo (39), New Delhi (44). And it appears the heat caused a section of the 401 to buckle in the afternoon.

But for those who hate the humidity, relief is on the way. Temperatures will deflate to a more normal 24C range over the next few days, with good sleeping weather – around 15C at night.

Check the updated weather forecast

What to do during a severe storm

Signs a severe storm may be coming

What to do during a tornado



What’s the difference between a Watch and a Warning?

A “watch” means that conditions favour the development of bad weather. A “warning” means such terrible conditions are either happening right now or are imminent and you should take the proper precautions.  

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