With the start of the long May weekend, a huge thunderstorm in southern Ontario brought strong gusts of wind that knocked down trees, cut off power and killed at least two people.
Shortly after the storm struck, police in the Toronto area reported numerous power outages, downed trees and traffic problems.
In Brampton, Ont., Peel Regional Police said a large tree struck a woman who was walking in the storm around 1:30 p.m. EDT. The woman was transported to a local hospital, where she later died.
Ontario Provincial Police also said just before 12:30 a.m. EDT, three people were taken to a hospital after a tree fell on a camping trailer in the Pinehurst Lake Protected Area near Cambridge, Ontario. One of the people died after receiving severe life-threatening injuries, and the other two suffered minor injuries, police said.
Environment Canada has warned that strong gusts of wind could penetrate at speeds of up to 100 kilometers per hour, and residents can expect a large hailstorm the size of nickel and tiny in certain regions.
“Heavy hail can damage property and cause injuries. Strong gusts of wind can throw loose objects, damage weak buildings, break tree branches and overturn large vehicles,” the agency said.
In a series of public weather signals issued Saturday, Environment Canada warned that the weather conditions were “favorable for the development of severe thunderstorms” in those areas, including the Greater Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal areas.
Environment Canada said heavy rainfall was expected in southern Ontario and Quebec over the weekend. Due to these conditions, the agency said it could not rule out the possibility of a tornado in some areas.
After the storms cleared in the Golden Horseshoe, torrents of rain, wind and thunder made their way east to Ottawa and southern Quebec. Both Hydro Quebec and Hydro Ottawa have reported outages affecting more than 100,000 customers.
Environment Canada recommends that you cover up “immediately” if threatening weather approaches.
“Remember that strong thunderstorms can lead to tornadoes. Lightning kills and injures Canadians every year. Remember that when there are thunderstorms, go indoors,” the agency said.
Heavy weather is forecast to move northeast through southern Ontario and Quebec, Michigan, where a tornado killed two people and injured 40 others on Friday.
With files from CTV News Toronto.
Add Comment