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Severe storms prompted tornado warnings in northern Ontario after two twisters touched down in the province Wednesday evening.

Flooding rains follow 2 confirmed twisters in southern Ont.


Digital writers
theweathernetwork.com

Friday, August 26, 2016, 8:20 PM - It may be late in the season, but the severe thunderstorm risk hangs on firmly across Ontario.

Northwest Ontario is expected to see isolated-severe thunderstorms Saturday evening, with the chance for thunderstorms to dominate southern Ontario Sunday.


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Following two confirmed twisters in southwestern Ontario on Wednesday (read more on that below), a line of storms prompted more tornado warnings in northern Ontario on Thursday. Torrential downpours also flooded parts of southern Ontario through the night.

At around 8 p.m. local time Thursday, a tornado warning was issued for Timmins, Cochrane and Iroquois Falls.

"Environment Canada meteorologists are tracking a severe thunderstorm that is possibly producing a tornado," the statement read. "Damaging winds, large hail and locally intense rainfall are also possible." The warning was dropped just before 10 p.m. EDT with no tornadoes reported.

Meanwhile, the high heat and humidity that helped to spark storms in southern regions resulted in localized flooding across Kitchener and Cambridge. The storms dumped up to 100 mm of rain in some places, flooding roads and basements around the region. There were even reports of flooding on both the inside and outside of Kitchener's Fairview Park Mall.

"Due to heavy rain, we are experiencing some flooding on streets throughout Kitchener," the city tweeted. "Pls drive carefully and according to road conditions."

Environment Canada confirms two tornadoes

Ontario's sixth and seventh tornadoes of the year have been confirmed by Environment Canada.

A supercell thunderstorm developed rapidly over the Detroit River to the west of LaSalle, Ont., Wednesday evening just after 7 p.m. local time.

"An Environment Canada and Western University damage survey team has concluded that the tornado that affected LaSalle was an enhanced fujita scale 1 (EF-1) tornado with peak winds between 135 and 175 km/h," the weather agency reports. "The maximum width of damage was 250 to 300 metres. The exact length of this tornado is still being determined."


IN PHOTOS: Devastation unfolds as more tornado damage is revealed. See it HERE


Shortly after, a second twister formed in the Windsor area with the worst damage occurring in the vicinity of the E.C. Row Expressway and Central Avenue, adds EC.

The damage survey team has given an EF-2 rating to this tornado with peak winds between 200 and 200 km/h and a maximum width of 200 metres. The exact length has yet to be determined.

The investigation continues and new information will be provided once it becomes available, according to the weather agency.

What started as a thunderstorm risk Wednesday evening led to tornado warnings firing up for parts of extreme southern Ontario, including the lower Great Lakes, covering Windsor, Essex, Chatham, and Kent.

Images surfaced at approximately 7:10 p.m. EST of a tornado touching down near Windsor, Ont.

Weather Network storm hunter Mark Robinson was among the first to catch wind of the twister while on the chase in southwestern Ontario. WATCH Mark's live broadcast of the storm unfolding, here.

All warnings ended just before 8 p.m. EST.


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City officials say more than a dozen homes were damaged and that the Red Cross is assisting with any displaced residents.

According to Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens, at least three people were sent to hospital with non life threatening injuries. He says they were workers at the Kautex Corporation east of Walker Road and suffered minor cuts and bruises amid the storm.

A number of power lines were also knocked down during the storm and police officials warned of live wires down in the storm hit area.

Seven tornadoes have been confirmed by Environment Canada so far this year in Ontario. The province sees an average of 12 twisters per year with the summer severe weather season running from late April to early October.

Temperature roller coaster continues

A developing low pressure system will track into the upper Great Lakes late Saturday and Sunday, bringing rain to parts of northern and central Ontario.

"It's looking to be a spectacular Saturday in southern Ontario, but the timing for this system is earlier/faster than previous forecasts, which increases the threat for showers and thunderstorms during predawn hours on Sunday," says Weather Network meteorologist Dr. Doug Gillham. "Sun returns later in the day resulting in a very muggy afternoon."


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Above seasonal temperatures will dominate through the middle of next from the Great Lakes to southern Quebec and spreading into the Maritimes. Cooler weather from the Prairies will spread into northern Ontario, central Quebec and the Maritimes later in the week.

"There's a brief cooldown possible into southern Ontario at the end of next week, but warming up once again for the Labour Day long weekend," Gillham says. "We'll see very warm to hot weather for the back to school week." 

Tune in to The Weather Network on TV for ongoing weather updates.

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