Severe thunderstorm warning issued north of Toronto

Environment Canada issued a thunderstorm warning for areas surrounding Toronto, including the regions of York, Peel and Waterloo Thursday evening.

A severe thunderstorm watch was also issued for Toronto, where there could be storms including hail, damaging winds and heavy downpours, Environment Canada said.

• MyNews: Have photos or video of the storm? Send them to us!

Wind gusts could reach up to 90 km/h, the watch notice said.

While Toronto was issued a watch, the most severe storms were expected north, east and west of the city for areas including Mississauga, Brampton, Guelph, Vaughan, Richmond Hill and Markham.

That warning, which was issued at 7:42 p.m., said to expect up to 50 mm of heavy rain and large hail of up to 2 cm in diameter.

The storm was expected to hit the areas after 8 p.m.

An Orangeville resident reported hail around 7 p.m., and lightning strikes were already reported north of the city shortly after 8 p.m.

Vaughan was one of the heaviest-hit areas in the GTA, reporting heavy winds and downpours beginning around 8 p.m.