TORONTO – Environment Canada issued a tornado watch for parts of southwestern Ontario Thursday morning.
The watch was issued just before 10 a.m. for St. Thomas, Aylmer, Eastern Elgin County, Simcoe, Delhi and Norfolk.
A tornado warning was briefly issued for St. Thomas, Alymer and Eastern Elgin County around 10:30 a.m. then changed to a thunderstorm before all watches and warnings were dropped just before 11 a.m.
A severe thunderstorm that indicated some rotation was over western Lake Erie around 9:45, 20 km south of Port Stanley. The quick-moving storm reached the shoreline around 10:30 a.m.
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Environment Canada called for torrential downpours, frequent lightning, hail around 2 cm in diameter and wind gusts near 100 km/h.
The tornado conditions are expected to last from the late morning to the early afternoon.
If there is a tornado, it is important that you seek shelter on the lowest part of a house or away from outside walls and windows like a basement, bathroom or interior closet. Do not remain in a vehicle. If you’re unable to take shelter, lie down in the lowest spot you can find and cover your head.
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A watch is issued when conditions are favourable for severe weather. A warning is when hazardous weather is imminent or occurring.
To get real-time weather for your area, download the Global News Skytracker weather app.
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