Severe thunderstorms hit Toronto area as Ottawa students head back to school in muggy weather
On Wednesday, September 2, a powerful line of thunderstorms with hail, flooding risk and possible tornadoes swept across Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area, while thousands of Ottawa students started their first day of school in humid conditions.
Severe storms sweep the Toronto region
On Wednesday, September 2, a volatile weather system moved across southern Ontario, including Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) expanded its warning area early in the morning, issuing yellow-level severe thunderstorm warnings for Toronto, Mississauga–Brampton, Burlington–Oakville, Hamilton, Halton Hills–Milton and Pickering–Oshawa/Southern Durham Region, according to CityNews Toronto. The warning for Toronto itself was lifted just before 7 a.m.
A first wave of storms had already crossed the region overnight and into the morning, bringing quarter-size hail, strong wind gusts and heavy rain to Markham, Pickering, Ajax, Whitby, Oshawa, Newmarket and Lindsay, moving east at 50 km/h. Some areas saw 30–50 mm of rain in under an hour, making the morning commute foggy and hazardous. The Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) warned that watersheds were already saturated after 8–55 mm of rain fell Tuesday, raising the risk of flash flooding. Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow announced the activation of the city's Emergency Operations Centre ahead of the expected heavy rainfall.
The most dangerous conditions are expected in the afternoon and evening, when a second, stronger wave of storms moves through. Citing the TRCA, CityNews Toronto reported possible wind gusts of 110–130 km/h, hail 3–5 cm in diameter, isolated tornado potential, and 50–60 mm of rain with brief rates of 30–50 mm per hour. CP24 meteorologist Bill Coulter said the strongest storms across southern Ontario were expected between roughly 3:30 and 8 p.m., also noting tornadic activity was possible. Sources differ slightly on temperature: CP24 cited a high of 28 C feeling closer to 36 with humidity, while CityNews reported a high of 27 C with a humidex of 35.
Ottawa students start the school year in humid weather
According to two CTV News headlines, thousands of Ottawa students returned to class on Wednesday amid humid conditions. No further details on temperatures or specific weather conditions in Ottawa were provided in the available source material.
What's next
Conditions are expected to improve Thursday: CP24 forecasts sunshine and a high of 27 C, with storms possible in southwestern Ontario but clearer skies over the GTA, while CityNews expects mostly cloudy skies with a chance of showers. A calmer, more seasonal stretch is forecast from Friday through Sunday, which CP24 described as "bright and beautiful."
