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Storms bring risk of tornado this afternoon: Environment Canada

Large hail, heavy rain also possible
Village Media
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Environment Canada has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for parts of Ontario, including our region. There is a risk of tornadoes developing, the alert says, as well as large hail and heavy downpours.

Full text of the Environment Canada alert follows:

Severe thunderstorm watch issued for:
    •    Barrie - Orillia - Midland
    •    Owen Sound - Blue Mountains - Northern Grey County
    •    Listowel - Milverton - Northern Perth County
    •    Stratford - Mitchell - Southern Perth County
    •    Guelph - Erin - Southern Wellington County
    •    Kitchener - Cambridge - Region of Waterloo
    •    Mount Forest - Arthur - Northern Wellington County
    •    Innisfil - New Tecumseth - Angus
    •    Niagara Falls - Welland - Southern Niagara Region
    •    St. Catharines - Grimsby - Northern Niagara Region

Current details:
Conditions are favourable for the development of severe thunderstorms this afternoon into this evening.

Hazards:
Strong wind gusts up to 100 km/h
Hail up to toonie size
Locally heavy rainfall of 30 to 50 mm
Risk of a tornado

Timing:
This afternoon into this evening.

Discussion:
There is a risk of an isolated tornado in areas south of Georgian Bay. The threat of severe thunderstorms will diminish with the passage of a front this evening.

Large hail can damage property and cause injury. Remember, severe thunderstorms can produce tornadoes.

Lightning kills and injures Canadians every year. Remember, when thunder roars, go indoors!

Emergency Management Ontario recommends that you take cover immediately if threatening weather approaches.

Severe thunderstorm watches are issued when atmospheric conditions are favourable for the development of thunderstorms that could produce one or more of the following: large hail, damaging winds, torrential rainfall.

Please continue to monitor alerts and forecasts issued by Environment Canada. To report severe weather, send an email to [email protected] or tweet reports using #ONStorm.

For more information, click here.