Severe storms target southern Ontario, 50 mm of rain per hour possible
Digital Reporter
Tuesday, August 12, 2014, 3:17 PM - Severe thunderstorm watches and warnings were issued for much of southern and southwestern Ontario Tuesday afternoon.
Environment Canada says conditions are favourable for severe storms to develop, capable of producing damaging winds, large hail and torrential rain.
"These storms will have the potential to give local rainfall amounts of 50 mm in an hour, as well as very strong winds gusts and hail," warns EC.
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That's after a rainy night and showery morning, courtesy of a slow-moving system sweeping across southern Ontario.
While rainfall totals in the south for the most part won't break any records, people in the Windsor area had to struggle with some localized flooding Monday night.
@weathernetwork About half of the back yard under water here in #Windsor. #onstorm pic.twitter.com/T1EeDVW9NC
— Tony Annyschyn (@Bowler1961) August 11, 2014
Across the border in Detroit, the same system, originating in the Ohio Valley, caused flash flooding in the city, and prompted a rainfall warning for the Windsor area.
"Rainfall estimates reached up to 20-25 mm an hour, primarily to the south of Windsor," Weather Network meteorologist Tyler Hamilton said early Tuesday morning.
Rainfall warnings were also in effect for parts of the Nickel Belt, including Sudbury and Timmins, with up to 60 mm possible in some areas by Tuesday night, with showers lingering into Wednesday.
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As for the Greater Toronto Area and the southwest, afternoon thunderstorms could result in locally higher rainfall amounts.
"Depending on how much clearing occurs, storms late in the afternoon could be near the severe threshold," Hamilton says. "Rainfall estimates during the first round include values up to 15 mm per hour for portions west of Oakville."
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