TORONTO – Rainfall warnings have been lifted for a stretch of southern Ontario, but gusty winds remain a concern as the remnants of hurricane Patricia move through the province.
Toronto-area airports were warning of flight delays and cancellations Wednesday as the remnants of hurricane Patricia brought rain and heavy winds to southern Ontario.
Both Pearson International Airport and Billy Bishop Airport urged travellers to check the status of their flights in light of the weather but did not say how many had been cancelled or pushed back.
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Rain and wind warnings and flood watches have been issued for a swath of the province as the remnants of Hurricane Patricia move northward into the region on Wednesday.
Forecasters predicted a “large shield of rain” in advance of the system they said would push into southwestern Ontario overnight and move into the Niagara and Toronto regions Wednesday morning.
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By early afternoon, Hydro One was reporting roughly 8,000 customers without power, most of them near Barrie and in the Muskoka region. Power was expected to be restored by mid-afternoon.
Fewer than 50 Toronto Hydro customers were without power at that time.
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The storm will bring with it “significant rainfall” along with gusty winds close to 70 km/h in some areas.
Latest indications suggest 25 to 40 millimetres of rain in most areas and locally higher amounts of 40 to 50 millimetres are possible, especially near lakes Erie and Ontario.
A number of injuries have already been reported in Toronto after 12 people were struck by vehicles between 6 and 9:30 a.m. Wednesday morning as a result of poor driving conditions.
Police say none of the injuries were life-threatening and most were bumps, bruises and broken bones.
Strong winds may have also played a factor in a light pole that came crashing down on Don Mills Road north of Eglinton Avenue East in mid-town Toronto.
Meanwhile, transit users in the city are reporting water issues at Lawrence Station’s bus terminal.
Others are saying the water is leaking on subway track level as well.
The City of Toronto released its own rainfall warning on Tuesday afternoon, with heavy rains of 45 to 55 millimetres expected to last throughout Toronto until Wednesday evening.
The city is warning of water pooling on roads and flooding near rivers, creeks and culverts.
READ MORE: Multiple pedestrians struck prompts warning by Toronto police
Residents are also being warned the winds may be strong enough to cause some tree damage.
The weather system is expected to end by Friday as it moves into Northern Quebec.
With files from The Canadian Press.
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