Three tornado warnings have been issued describing “dangerous and potentially life-threatening” situations amid severe thunderstorms in Ontario and Quebec.
“Environment Canada meteorologists are tracking a severe thunderstorm that is possibly producing a tornado,” reads a warning from Environment and Climate Change Canada. “If you hear a roaring sound or see a funnel cloud, swirling debris near the ground, flying debris, or any threatening weather approaching, take shelter immediately.”
The Rouyn area in Quebec and the Ontario regions of Timmins – Cochrane – Iroquois Falls and Kirkland Lake – Englehart are impacted.
Latest updates as of 3:50 p.m. ET
- Environment Canada has issued three warnings due to severe thunderstorms capable of producing tornadoes
- One is six kilometres southwest of Kap-Kig-Iwan Provincial Park, moving east at 55 km/h in Ontario’s Kirkland Lake – Englehart region.
- Two more are in the Timmins – Cochrane – Iroquois Falls region near Matheson, moving east at 80 km/h, and northwest of Kirke, moving east at 80 km/h.
- Another storm is impacting the Rouyn area in Quebec
“These severe thunderstorms are embedded in a line of thunderstorms sweeping through the region that are producing nickel to ping pong ball sized hail and 100 km/h wind gusts,” Environment Canada warned. “Take cover immediately, if threatening weather approaches.”
Tornados and severe thunderstorms are possible in highly populated areas across Ontario and Quebec, including the regions around Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal. Environment Canada issued a cascade of severe weather alerts on Thursday, including nine warnings and 72 weather watches.
The department notes that in the case of tornados and thunderstorms, alerts can appear or intensify quickly, sometimes with less than half an hour’s notice. Residents are advised to monitor severe weather alerts for their area on Environment Canada’s website.
Tornado watch alerts
The following regions and communities are under tornado watch.
In Ontario:
- Timmins – Cochrane – Iroquois Falls (Warning)
- Deep River – Whitney – Eastern Algonquin Park
- Western Algonquin Park – Lake of Two Rivers
- Bancroft – Hastings Highlands – Denbigh
- Kaladar – Bannockburn – Bon Echo Park
- Barrie – Collingwood – Hillsdale
- Midland – Coldwater – Orr Lake
- Orillia – Lagoon City – Washago
- Innisfil – New Tecumseth – Angus
- Orangeville – Grand Valley – Southern Dufferin County
- Shelburne – Mansfield – Northern Dufferin County
- Haliburton – Minden – Southern Haliburton County
- Oxtongue Lake – Fort Irwin – Northern Haliburton County
- Caledon
- Bracebridge – Gravenhurst
- Huntsville – Baysville
- Port Carling – Port Severn
- Apsley – Woodview – Northern Peterborough County
- Fenelon Falls – Balsam Lake Park – Northern Kawartha Lakes
- Lindsay – Southern Kawartha Lakes
- Peterborough City – Lakefield – Southern Peterborough County
- Barry’s Bay – Killaloe
- Petawawa – Pembroke – Cobden
- Renfrew – Arnprior – Calabogie
- Newmarket – Georgina – Northern York Region
- Uxbridge – Beaverton – Northern Durham Region
Developing local coverage:
In Quebec:
- Amos area
- La Sarre area
- Lebel-sur-Quévillon area
- Malartic area
- Rouyn area
- Senneterre area
- Val d’Or – Louvicourt area
- Dorval Lodge area
- Le Domaine area
- La Minerve – Rouge River area
- Mont-Laurier area
- Gouin Reservoir area
- Parent area
- Fort William – Shawville area
- Rapides-des-Joachims area
- Témiscaming area
- Ville-Marie area
- Lièvre River area
- Low – Wakefield area
- Maniwaki – Gracefield area
- Papineau-Labelle Reserve area
- Papineauville – Chénéville area
The federal government alert notes that severe thunderstorms are liable to bring tornados, and goes on to advise against water-related activities due to the risk of “violent and sudden gusts of wind,” as well as lightning strikes.
Residents in affected areas are advised to go to the lowest floor of their home, away from external walls and windows. Temporary, freestanding shelter such as tents, mobile homes or vehicles should be avoided, in favour of sturdier structures. As a last resort, those without immediate access to shelter should lie in a low spot and protect their head from flying debris.
Stormy skies over Brandon, Man. are pictured on June 12, 2024. (Submitted photo: Ian Emmons)
Severe weather warnings
Currently, there are severe weather warnings in the following regions:
In Ontario:
- Gogama – Foleyet
- Elliot Lake – Ranger Lake
- Kirkland Lake – Englehart
- Blind River – Thessalon
- Sault Ste. Marie – St. Joseph Island
- Searchmont – Montreal River Harbour – Batchawana Bay
- Timmins – Cochrane – Iroquois Falls
In Quebec:
- La Sarre area
- Rouyn area
Warnings describe severe thunderstorms with hail up to the size of a ping pong ball and wind gusts of 90 km/h, as well as a risk of tornados.
“Lightning kills and injures Canadians every year,” the warning reads. “Remember, when thunder roars, go indoors!
Severe thunderstorm watch alerts
The following regions and communities are under severe thunderstorm watch.
In Ontario:
- Bayfield Inlet – Dunchurch
- South River – Burk’s Falls
- Chapleau-Missinaibi Lake
- Gogama – Foleyet
- Elliot Lake – Ranger Lake
- Greater Sudbury and vicinity
- Bruce Peninsula – Sauble Beach – Tobermory
- Hanover – Dundalk – Southern Grey County
- Owen Sound – Blue Mountains – Northern Grey County
- Saugeen Shores – Kincardine – Southern Bruce County
- Kirkland Lake – Englehart
- Temiskaming Shores – Temagami
- Blind River – Thessalon
- Manitoulin Island
- Espanola – Killarney
- North Bay – Powassan – Mattawa
- West Nipissing – French River
- Town of Parry Sound – Rosseau – Killbear Park
- Timmins – Cochrane – Iroquois Falls
- Mount Forest – Arthur – Northern Wellington County
In Quebec:
- Chibougamau
- Joutel – Matagami area
- Miquelon – Desmaraisville area
- Saint-Donat – Mont-Tremblant Park area
- Saint-Michel-des-Saints area
Among the potential impacts as storms spread throughout the vast swath of eastern Canada are hot and humid temperatures, feeling like up to 33 C, with possible wind gusts of up to 110 km/h and hail up to a golf ball in size.
What to expect
At present, major cities including Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Quebec City remain just outside the boundaries of alerts, though CTV Your Morning meteorologist Kelsey McEwen notes that risk of severe storms could extend beyond their current area.
Storms are expected to be intermittent as they move through the Great Lakes region, and may affect Toronto and Montreal later in the day, though with comparatively less risk. They may reach Atlantic Canada by Friday, McEwen notes.
This is a developing story. More to come.