Potential for funnel clouds in Toronto, GTA; heavy rain, thunderstorms in store

Environment Canada has issued a weather advisory for Toronto and the GTA, saying “conditions will be favourable for the development of funnel clouds” on Tuesday.

“These types of funnel clouds are generated by weak rotation under rapidly growing clouds or weak thunderstorms. This weak rotation is normally not a danger near the ground,” the advisory states.

However, the national agency says there is a chance it could intensify and become a weak landspout tornado.

“Landspout tornadoes do not usually cause significant damage but can still be dangerous. They can be strong enough to topple trees, damage roofs or toss debris short distances.”

The region is also a special weather statement that calls for the possibility of heavy rain.

“Slow-moving showers or thunderstorms are expected today across the region and some areas may receive significant rainfall amounts,” the statement reads.

Some areas could get between 30-50 millimetres of rain.

There is also the potential for flash floods and water pooling on roads.

CityNews meteorologist Jill Taylor says sunshine will return to the region on Wednesday and Thursday before unsettled conditions return with scattered wet weather for the Canada Day long weekend.

She also says the GTA could get some smoke from wildfires Tuesday overnight and into Wednesday morning.

Smoke from a number of wildfires has triggered special air quality statements in parts of Ontario and caused high levels of air pollution.

The Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre says that of the roughly 462 active fires burning across Canada, some 237 are burning in Quebec, leading to a blanket of smoke across parts of Ontario.

With files from The Canadian Press