Southwestern Ontario is bracing for thunderstorms on Tuesday evening, as wet weather moves across the border and through the province.
Environment Canada issued storm warnings for parts of Windsor and London by 6 p.m. Tuesday, with less severe watches in place for areas including Kitchener, Guelph and Norfolk County.
The thunderstorm warning said meteorologists were tracking a severe storm capable of producing strong wind and pea- to dime-sized hail, along with rain. Winds could be as high as 100 km/h, according to Environment Canada, and will hit before the storm itself.
The watch similarly predicted fast winds and toonie-sized hail, adding a possible “risk of tornadoes.” The storm is expected Tuesday evening and, in some places, could continue overnight.
Global News chief meteorologist Anthony Farnell agreed that “even an isolated tornado” could be possible with the storm, which comes after the hottest August day in Toronto so far this summer.
As of 6:30 p.m., the storm warnings and watches reached as high as Lake Huron. By 8 p.m., the storm map had swept to the western edges of the Greater Toronto Area, with thunderstorm watches issues in places like Milton, Richmond Hill and Brampton.
“A line of severe thunderstorms over southwestern Ontario will continue to move through the area this evening,” the thunderstorm watch said. “There is also a lesser risk of a tornado.”