Morning briefing: Four things to know about Monday

Monday, July 28, 2014, 7:15 AM -

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The big weather story in Canada from last night is the torrential rains and tornado warnings in southern Ontario, after a weekend that saw three confirmed twisters in Manitoba.

There's more storm risk in some provinces this week, but also an omega block pattern that will lock temperatures in for most of Canada.

Here's what you need to know.

Ontario & Quebec

It was a very rainy night for much of southern Ontario, and it's still coming down in some parts of the region.

A system passing through brought thunderstorms that sparked widespread tornado warnings around 7 p.m., covering major centres like London and Kitchener along with the Goderich, Grand Bend and Sarnia areas.

No tornadoes have been confirmed just yet, but there were reports of a funnel cloud north west of Kitchener, and the system did bring significant rainfall and winds as it passed.

"Radar indicated heavy rainfall with these cells, and the northern Greater Toronto Area, including Markham and Vaughan, saw localized flooding," Weather Network meteorologist Kelly Sonnenburg said Monday morning. 

The storms winds' knocked down trees in the Grand Bend Area, and as of 6:30, around 6,600 customers were without power, mostly in the Windsor area.

Some flights were cancelled or delayed, flash flooding forced the closure of several roads and at one point, the passing front drove down temperatures at Pearson Airport by 10 degrees.

Showers were still coming down at dawn in some areas, and will eventually push east by the afternoon.

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No severe thunderstorm warnings are in effect in Ontario this morning, but eastern Quebec is in for some relatively stiff downpours. 

Rainfall warnings cover the Eastern Townships and the Beauce area, and a special weather statement for rainfall was in effect through much of eastern Quebec, including the capital.

As for temperatures, it'll feel more like fall on Monday, and thanks to an omega block pattern hovering over Canada, that won't change much for the rest of the week.

Temperatures won't get up much past the 20^oC mark, and gusty winds are expected this afternoon through southern Ontario, with some gusts reaching 70 km/h along the Huron and Erie shores.

WHAT'S AN OMEGA BLOCK? Read up on why Canada's weather isn't going to change much this week.

"An upper level trough remains over us this week, bringing the risk for showers and isolated thunderstorms for southern Ontario every day," Sonnenburg said.

There's also some risk of non-severe thunderstorms in northwestern Ontario Monday.

Atlantic Canada

The same system that sparked those warnings in Ontario is expected to bring rain and thunderstorms to the Maritimes later in the day Monday.

"Most of the rain should stay under 15 mm, but some areas could see up to 30 mm today through Tuesday," Sonnenburg says. "New Brunswick and Nova Scotia could see isolated thunderstorms this afternoon with the incoming system."

"There will be gusty winds with this system. Some areas could see gusts up to 70 km/h this afternoon and evening," Sonnenburg says.

As for the rest of the week, Atlantic Canada is in for some unsettled weather, with moisture coming up from the tropics bringing warm temperatures and rainy conditions.

Prairie provinces

Thanks to that omega blocking pattern, the Prairies have an area of high pressure sitting over them for most of the week, bringing fair weather.

Saturday saw at least three tornadoes touch down in southern Manitoba, with no significant damage or injuries reported.

For Monday, there is a weak upper level trough that should bring a slight risk for isolated non-severe thunderstorms in the afternoon, mostly along the Alberta foothills and the north.

As for temperatures, expect warmth, reaching the low 30s through most of the Prairies by Tuesday and Wednesday.

British Columbia

As with the Prairies, B.C.'s weather pattern is expected to be relatively static this week.

Monday carries some risk of non-severe storms in parts of the Interior.

Southern B.C. will remain dry and warm, a problem for firefighters as wildfire risk begins to rise once again.

Any moisture off the B.C. coast will continue to push to the north.

TUNE IN: We'll have ongoing, up-to-date coverage of active weather in your area on The Weather Network on TV. You can also send us your pictures and videos, if safe to do so.