Remain alert as severe storms target southern Ontario on Sunday
A drenching system moving through Ontario will continue producing heavy rain and thunderstorms overnight Saturday and into the day Sunday.
Additional downpours will lead to a continued threat for flooding throughout portions of southern, central, and eastern Ontario.
Severe thunderstorms are possible late Sunday morning into the afternoon hours from the Greater Toronto Area east through Ottawa, bringing a risk for torrential downpours, strong winds, and possibly one or two tornadoes.
Monitor the radar for storms approaching your region throughout the weekend. Have a way to get warnings the moment they’re issued, and have a plan in place to take shelter if severe thunderstorms threaten your location.
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Storm threat continues into Sunday
The low-pressure system that brought rain and storms to Ontario on Saturday will linger into Sunday as it slowly moves east across the province.
Drenching rains will persist through the overnight hours and into the day Sunday across central and eastern Ontario, where totals could amount to 75-100 mm by the time rain lets up late Sunday. Locally higher totals are possible.
Widespread rainfall warnings are in effect across these areas through the remainder of the weekend. “Heavy downpours can cause flash floods and water pooling on roads,” Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) said in its warnings.
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Forecasters expect a renewed round of thunderstorms to build across southern and eastern Ontario as a warm front lifts north and a cold front marches in from the west.
Dynamics are favourable for thunderstorms to turn severe, packing the risk for torrential downpours, gusty winds, and large hail. One or two tornadoes can’t be ruled out, mainly in eastern Ontario.
The threat will diminish by the evening hours as the cold front moves through and storms push east out of the region.
Remember, never try to drive across a flooded roadway. It’s impossible to tell how deep the water is until it’s too late. Sometimes the road is washed out beneath floodwaters. It takes a surprisingly small amount of moving water to lift up a vehicle and carry it away.
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Stay tuned to The Weather Network for the latest forecast across Ontario.
