Hail, flood risk comes with severe threat in southern Ontario Wednesday
Parts of southern Ontario will see a setup for strong to severe thunderstorms on Wednesday, depending on the wildfire smoke. Threats include heavy downpours, localized flooding, large hail and strong wind gusts
A multi-day threat for thunderstorms will continue on Wednesday in southern Ontario.
The active, recent stretch of thunderstorm activity could continue on Wednesday, with a severe chance across a good swath of the lower Great Lakes region in southern Ontario. But wildfire smoke could be a factor in any storm development.
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Be sure to stay up-to-date on any changing conditions and weather alerts in your area.
Risk of severe storms on Wednesday in southern Ontario, but there's a catch
Forecasters are closely watching a severe weather environment build on Wednesday. A highly moist and unstable air mass over southern Ontario, along with a moderately strong northwest airflow aloft will help to boost storm dynamics through the afternoon and evening hours.
These factors will also contribute to a risk for localized flooding and large hail.
The severe weather is expected to begin bubbling up in the afternoon and could impact evening commutes across the Barrie area, Greater Toronto Area (GTA), and Niagara Region.
Unfortunately for the Niagara Region, where we've seen devastating flooding from recent storms, another 30 mm of rain could be on tap with these storms.
We could also see a weak supercell develop during this time.
The storms are forecast to continue through the evening and fill into the London-Windsor region.
However, upper-level smoke from wildfires will further add to the uncertainty, as it could suppress thunderstorm development and severity.
The jet stream is transporting smoke directly from B.C. to Ontario.
Similar severe risk exists along the Ontario-Quebec border
In eastern Ontario, there will be an additional risk of severe storms across the Ottawa-Montreal corridor as a similar, but weaker, severe weather environment builds. Here, there will be plenty of thunderstorm energy and instability available in the atmosphere, but weaker mid-level winds and moisture.
Disruptive storms, some being severe, are expected to develop near Ottawa by the late afternoon or early evening. From there, the storms will track east into Quebec and then across the international border by the evening.
With those cells, the main hazards include heavy rainfall, large hail and strong winds.
By Friday, a provincewide cooldown is expected to bring temperatures down to slightly below seasonal values.
Stay with The Weather Network for more information and updates on your forecast across Ontario.