Strong, damaging storms hit Toronto and GTA leading to flooding, power outages
Posted September 1, 2026 3:06 pm.
Last Updated September 2, 2026 7:48 pm.
The clean-up begins for Toronto and most of southwestern Ontario as dangerous storms hit the area this evening with damaging winds, torrential rain, and large hail.
An orange-level thunderstorm watch have ended for Toronto and the GTA. Some showers are still expected overnight. Tornado watches have also ended for Hamilton, Halton Hills – Milton, and Burlington – Oakville.
Several emergency alerts were issued for destructive winds and very large hail in Toronto during the height of the storms between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., warning those in the area to seek shelter.
Toronto police say emergency services have received several reports of wires down and trees fallen in several locations across the city and EMS are urging people to be patient.
CityNews meteorologist Natasha Ramsahai says the atmosphere west of Toronto destabilized as sunshine breaks through cloud cover — a key ingredient needed to “add energy for big storms.”
The Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) also issued a flood warning at 6 p.m. with an additional 50 to 90mm of rain expected and evening. Flooding and flash flooding is possible, it warns, adding that rivers in York/Durham could overflow.
Major flooding has already been reported at the Don Watershed near Bayview in Toronto and the Rouge Watershed near Unionville in Markham.
The flooding threat has also escalated significantly, Ramsahai says, largely due to the fact that 8 to 55 mm fell across Toronto on Aug. 31. TRCA says watersheds seen between 3 to 97 mm of rain Wednesday.
“Water levels in TRCA rivers will likely keep rising as water continues to flow to downstream river areas and due to more rain expected,” read their warning.
The Don Valley Parkway and a stretch of Lake Shore Boulevard has closed due to flooding as well.
Images captured during Wednesday’s storms
Toronto Hydro is reporting thousands of people are without power following the storm and say they are responding to widespread outages caused by severe weather.
“Crews are working as quickly and safely as possible to restore power to affected customers,” read their alert.
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