GTA under thunderstorm watch as more rainfall hits the region
Posted August 21, 2018 5:52 am.
Last Updated August 21, 2018 7:15 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Environment Canada has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for Toronto and parts of the GTA, as another round of rainfall hits the region.
“Conditions are favourable for the development of dangerous thunderstorms that may be capable of producing strong wind gusts and torrential rain,” the national weather agency said.
The threat of thunderstorms is expected to continue through the evening.
Earlier in the day, the national weather agency said many areas will receive between 20 to 40 millimetres of rain by this evening, adding that areas hit by thunderstorms may see higher rainfall amounts.
680 NEWS meteorologist Jill Taylor said Toronto will likely see record rainfall, with 30 millimetres of rain expected in the city.
Although there will be breaks from the precipitation, Environment Canada said the torrential downpours will bring “significant rainfall” over a short time-frame.
“There will be rounds of showers that could be at times heavy and thunderstorms. There’s even the potential that some of these storms could produce isolated tornadoes mainly north and east GTA,” Taylor said.
“For areas that get the thunderstorms, there could be heavy-duty downpours … flooding is certainly a risk.”
The City of Toronto is advising everyone to take extra care when travelling and to take precautionary steps to protect their property and ensure their safety.
The city says Transportation Services staff are monitoring conditions on the roads and working to keep catch basins clear.
Both the city and Metrolinx has additional staff at Union Station in case of flooding.
The previous record rainfall for this date was 24.4 millimetres, set in 1964.
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