Strong wind gusts are expected to blow through the Toronto area as part of a storm system passing over southern Ontario.

The city is under a special weather statement from Environment Canada, with gusts expected to reach speeds of more than 70 km/h. The wind speed measured at Pearson International Airport on Thursday morning was 71 km/h, and gusts reached 78 km/h at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport.

The gusts are part of a fall storm that blew into southern Ontario early Wednesday, and brought a day of heavy rain to the Golden Horseshoe.

The heavy rain slowed overnight, but residents of the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area can expect drizzle for the rest of the day, and into Friday morning, the weather agency predicted.

The wind is expected to be strongest in Toronto in the mid-morning on Thursday, then move on toward eastern Ontario, the statement said.

In some areas near eastern Lake Ontario and Lake Erie, winds could reach up to 90 km/h. Other areas near the lakes and the St. Lawrence Valley may see winds as strong as 80 km/h or more.

The gusts may be strong enough to cause tree damage and power outages, Environment Canada said.

The following areas are under the special weather statement:

  • Toronto
  • York-Durham
  • Halton-Peel
  • Hamilton
  • Niagara
  • Waterloo-Wellington
  • Dunnville-Caledonia-Haldimand
  • Barrie-Orillia-Midland
  • Oxford-Brant
  • Grey-Bruce
  • Parry Sound-Rosseau-Killbear Park
  • Bayfield Inlet-Dunchurch
  • Kaladar-Bannockburn-Bon Echo Park
  • Simcoe-Delhi-Norfolk
  • Port Carling-Port Severn
  • St. Catharines-Grimsby
  • Elgin
  • London-Middlesex
  • Sarnia-Lambton
  • Windsor-Essex-Chatham-Kent
  • Peterborough-Kawartha Lakes
  • Huron-Perth
  • Belleville-Quinte- Northumberland
  • Kingston-Prince Edward
  • Stirling-Tweed-South Frontenac
  • Smiths Falls-Lanark-Sharbot Lake
  • Brockville-Leeds and Grenville
  • Ottawa-Gatineau
  • Prescott and Russell
  • Cornwall-Morrisburg

The following areas are also under Environment Canada wind warnings:

  • Niagara
  • Dunnville-Caledonia-Haldimand
  • St. Thomas-Aylmer-Eastern Elgin County
  • Simcoe-Delhi-Norfolk
  • Belleville-Quinte-Northumberland
  • Kingston-Prince Edward