Powerful storm hits Canada’s Toronto, cutting power to tens of thousands | Climate Crisis News
Severe Thunderstorm Hits Toronto, Causing Widespread Damage and Flight Disruptions
A powerful thunderstorm struck Toronto on Wednesday, causing significant damage, widespread road closures, and power outages affecting tens of thousands of residents. The storm, which featured heavy rainfall, high winds, and large hail, also prompted tornado warnings in some regions.
As of 8 p.m. Wednesday, approximately 45,000 customers were without electricity, according to Toronto Hydro. The storm felled trees and flooded various areas, leading to closures on major routes, including the Don Valley Parkway.
Michael Garron Hospital, situated in the East York community, reported that its emergency department was impacted by flooding amid the storm’s intensity.
Images shared by CBC showed vehicles nearly submerged in water in Vaughan, a community north of Toronto.
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow announced on X that the city’s emergency operations center had been activated earlier that morning. “City crews are already out responding to downed power wires, fallen trees, flooding and more,” she said. The Toronto Transit Commission is also working to restore services for subways and buses affected by flooding and debris.
Additionally, dozens of flights scheduled to depart from Toronto Pearson International Airport on Wednesday evening faced delays or cancellations.
While the severe thunderstorm warning for the Greater Toronto Area was lifted by Environment and Climate Change Canada, a yellow alert for heat and further severe thunderstorms remained in effect for parts of southwestern Ontario.
