Severe thunderstorm watches, earlier tornado warnings across Greater Toronto Area dropped
Posted July 18, 2026 9:19 am.
Last Updated July 18, 2026 3:58 pm.
Severe thunderstorm watches and earlier tornado warnings issued as a cold front moved through the Greater Toronto Area have been dropped.
According to a statement issued by Environment and Climate Change Canada Saturday morning, severe thunderstorm watches were issued for Toronto and nearby regions. Before 4 p.m., the watches were removed by federal meteorologists.
Forecasters said a cold front, which was over Michigan early Saturday, was expected to bring in thunderstorms, rain, hail and wind gusts of up to 110 km/h.
The statement noted that hail could be the size of a quarter or up to a ping-pong ball. Rainfall amounts were forecast to be up to 40 millimetres.
“Driving conditions may be difficult. Local utility outages are possible. Damage to roofs, fences, branches or soft shelters is possible,” the Environment and Climate Change Canada statement said.
“Heavy rain can cause flash flooding and significant reductions to visibility. Severe thunderstorm watches are issued when conditions are favourable for the development of thunderstorms capable of producing damaging hail, wind or rain.”
In a social media post, Toronto Police Service officers said there were reports of flooding on at least one southbound lane of the Don Valley Parkway near Eastern Avenue.
Despite power outages reported in Milton and Markham Saturday afternoon, there weren’t widespread reports of damages or flooding.
Tornado alerts were briefly issued by Environment and Climate Change Canada over the lunch hour on Saturday for Brampton, Mississauga, Oakville, Burlington, Halton Hills and Milton. However, all were dropped roughly half an hour later.
“Meteorologists are tracking a severe thunderstorm that is possibly producing a tornado. Damaging winds, large hail and locally intense rainfall are also possible,” the alerts said at the time.
“This is a very dangerous and potentially life-threatening situation. Take cover immediately in a basement, interior room, or a sturdy shelter when threatening weather approaches.”
The Toronto and Region Conservation Authority warned local rivers and watersheds could “rise above their normal levels with stronger and faster flows.”
For the latest watches and warnings, click here.
The statements come amid ongoing air quality warnings due to smoke from wildfires in northwestern Ontario.
