Officials are responding to multiple reports of damage, power outages and flooding across the Greater Toronto Area and central Ontario after a severe thunderstorm system Friday afternoon.
Environment Canada issued a tornado warning for Huntsville at 4:20 p.m. A spokesman told Global News the weather agency was aware of social media reports describing damage and possible tornado activity. However, he said meteorologists haven’t confirmed the tornado reports and officials are still gathering information.
Pictures shared on social media Friday afternoon showed homes damaged in the Huntsville area. The Huntsville Fire Department told Global News it was responding to several damage-related calls.
Freelance journalist Cindy Burgess described conditions after the storm hit Bella Lake where she was.
“The rain was torrential, lots of wind, but it wasn’t until I tried to drive down the road that I saw the extent of the damage,” she told Global News.
WATCH: Ontario get hammered by thunderstorms
Hydro One said approximately 5,400 customers in the Muskoka region were without power as of 10 p.m. Friday. According to the utility’s website, it’s estimated all customers will have power restored by 8 p.m. Saturday.
Meanwhile, crews in York region had to shut down some roads Friday afternoon due to fallen hydro wires.
With files from Jessica Patton