Thunderstorm watches, warnings issued in Ontario and Quebec
Digital Reporter
Wednesday, May 27, 2015, 3:53 PM - The hot, muggy conditions in southern Ontario and Quebec have begun to spark strong thunderstorms, prompting warnings from forecasters.
Environment Canada issued a severe thunderstorm warning for the Windsor area a little before 1:30 p.m., as storm began to enter the area. It was dropped just before 4:00 p.m. as the storm risk headed east.
"The thunderstorms are located along a southwest to northeast line over eastern Lower Michigan near the international border and are moving northeast at 75 km/h," the agency says. "Wind gusts of 90 km/h or greater will be possible with these thunderstorms."
Environment Canada has also issued severe thunderstorm watches for much of Ontario, including the entire Greater Toronto Area.
In neighbouring Quebec, the agency issued a severe thunderstorm watch for the Eastern Townships before dawn, and expanded it to include the entire St. Lawrence region, including Quebec City and Montreal by mid-morning.
By the early afternoon, some of those watches had been upgraded to warnings in the Eastern Townships and communities east of Montreal.
A watch means severe weather is likely to occur. When upgraded to a warning, it means it is either imminent or occurring.
The new watches and warnings come after a rough night for parts of southwestern Ontario, with several watches and warnings being issued for thunderstorms that brought major downpours and strong winds of 70-80 km/h Tuesday evening.
As for Wednesday's potential storms, Weather Network meteorologist Tyler Hamilton says storms will likely move across southern Ontario in the afternoon and evening hours.
"The main concern is a squall line or cluster of storms poised to move across southern Ontario late this afternoon," he said.
Bow almost on top of me west of London #onstorm @jwhittalTWN pic.twitter.com/hGJFGsLyQi
— Mark Robinson (@StormhunterTWN) May 27, 2015
In Quebec, Hamilton says the province has "arguably the best chance of a severe thunderstorm in the country today."
"Dynamics look fairly good, and by mid-afternoon, strong storms could form some squall-like features," he added.
Severe t-storm WATCH issued in QC for #Mtl, #Laval, #Vaudreuil, #Drummondville, #Quebec & the Eastern Twps. #meteoqc pic.twitter.com/3YWdDyCU5r
— The Weather Network (@weathernetwork) May 27, 2015
Tune in to The Weather Network on TV for ongoing coverage, and check back here for updates.
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