Ontario active weather: Thunderstorm threat continues through Tuesday evening

Tuesday, July 8, 2014, 3:26 PM -

Rainfall and severe thunderstorm warnings were issued in southern Ontario Tuesday morning, with downpours hitting the region during the afternoon hours.

RELATED: Strong storms due in Ontario

Heavy rain was spotted outside the Weather Network's national forecast centre in Oakville, Ontario as well as in many surrounding communities.

While the lunch-hour commute may have been sluggish for people in the GTA, the evening commute should be relatively calm with the thunderstorm risk subsiding in the Toronto area between 4 and 5 p.m.

"The widespread thunderstorm threat in the GTA will move out ahead of the evening commute," says Weather Network meteorologist Dr. Doug Gillham, "but there is the potential for scattered showers in southern Ontario Tuesday evening."

The storms are currently heading east, and that -- combined with daytime heating -- could spark severe thunderstorms in eastern Ontario and parts of Quebec into the evening hours.

"Some of these thunderstorms have the potential to become severe with large hail, damaging winds and torrential rainfall," Environment Canada says, adding that all severe thunderstorms are capable of producing a tornado..

Still -- no tornado watches or warnings have been issued in Ontario at present.

Conditions are expected to improve Wednesday. A fast-moving cold front will be droppin temperatures Tuesday evening, giving way to comfortable (and cooler) weather the following day.