Expired News - Two microbursts confirmed in southern Ontario - The Weather Network
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Monday marked the official start of summer, and the incoming season is taking that extremely seriously, in the form of intense heat and a risk of severe thunderstorms.

Two microbursts confirmed in southern Ontario


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    Cheryl Santa Maria
    Digital Reporter

    Thursday, June 23, 2016, 6:51 AM - Monday marked the official start of summer, and the incoming season is taking that extremely seriously, in the form of intense heat and a risk of severe thunderstorms. That was enough to prompt tornado warnings in several regions in southern Ontario Monday evening.

    Those warnings were dropped and no tornadoes developed, but active weather roared through the region into the night.

    Ping pong-sized hail was reported in the Goderich area. In Ottawa, images of low-lying clouds popped up on social media.

    Heavy rainfall, strong winds and some tree damage was reported in several areas.

    Now, Environment Canada has confirmed two microbursts touched down during the storms -- one 10 km north of Stirling that destroyed a silo with a peak gust near 160 km/h, and one in the Bellmont Lake area, in Peterborough County.

    That burst slightly shifted a boat house and had estimated windspeeds of 100 km/h.

    A microburst occurs when a column of cold air descends very rapidly and while they can be damaging, they aren't tornadoes. The resulting winds from a microburst can reach up to 270 km/h in extreme cases, according to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.



    WHAT'S NEXT?

    The threat for more severe weather has faded across southern Ontario, but the heat is building once again this weekend. 


    SUMMER 2016: Visit the Summer Forecast Guide to the Seasonfor the 2016 Summer Forecast, Fall Weather Preview and much more


    "It will be another hot weekend and into early next week for the Great Lakes and into southern Quebec with 30+ degree temperatures likely again," says Dr. Doug Gillham, a meteorologist at The Weather Network.

    Humidity levels are set to peak on Sunday before a line of showers and thunderstorms cross southern Ontario late Sunday night or early Monday.

    "Next week will be much like this week for the Great Lakes with a few days of cooler (but not chilly) weather for the middle of next week followed by a warm-up heading into the Canada Day long weekend," Gillham says.

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