Greater Toronto Area sees more rain a day after record-setting downpour
Posted August 18, 2024 10:05 am.
Last Updated August 19, 2024 5:10 am.
Parts of the Greater Toronto Area saw more rain on Sunday and braced for still more wet weather a day after a storm soaked the region and broke at least one precipitation record.
Heavy rainfall warnings from Environment Canada were in effect for most of the day across the GTA, with more than 100 millimetres of precipitation expected in some places. While warnings were cancelled for Toronto, Mississauga and Brampton late Sunday they remained in effect for regions in the Golden Horseshoe into Sunday night.
Flooding once again stranded several vehicles on Highway 410 southbound off-ramp to Highway 401, but according to Mississauga Fire, all occupants were safely rescued.
All lanes of southbound Highway 410 at Courtneypark Drive and the ramp to Highway 407 were closed until 3 a.m. on Monday when water was drained and debris cleared from the roadway.
Localized flooding was also reported at Dundas Street and Queen Frederica Drive in Mississauga for the second straight day.
Due to flooding, Pearson International Airport reported that Convair Drive was closed from Renforth Road to Britannia Road East. The Greater Toronto Airports Authority urged anyone with Sunday travel plans to check their flight status before leaving home.
In Toronto, the national weather service said the ground had little ability to absorb further rainfall after torrential downpours drenched the city on Saturday. Another 15 to 30 millimetres was forecast by Sunday evening.
The agency warns that localized flooding in low-lying areas is possible and advises motorists to avoid driving through water on roads.
“Even shallow, fast-moving water across a road can sweep a vehicle or a person away,” an alert issued early Sunday says.
“Don’t approach washouts near rivers, creeks and culverts.”
They also advise residents to keep children and pets away from creeks and river banks and to consider moving valuable items to higher levels to avoid damage.
Saturday’s downpour dumped 128.3 millimetres of rain at Toronto Pearson Airport. That topped the 2013 record of 126 millimetres recorded at the airport, which is on tap for its rainiest summer ever.
“It’s fair to say that this has been a record-breaking season,” said Environment Canada meteorologist Trudy Kidd.
The previous record for summer rainfall stood at 396.2 millimetres, but Kidd said the airport has already seen 475.7 millimetres this season.
Saturday’s storm caused widespread flooding and created dangerous conditions for motorists, particularly in Mississauga, Etobicoke and North York.
There were no reports of physical injuries, but raging waters trapped some drivers and forced them to call on rescue crews for assistance.
Earlier in the day, a tornado touched down in the southwestern Ontario community of Ayr. There were no reports of injuries, but crews responded to reports of property damage and scattered trees and power lines.
