A rare weather phenomenon strikes southern Ontario again
Thundersnow has struck southern Ontario for a second time this month.
The weather phenomenon takes place when lightning and thunder strike during a snowfall.
CTV News Toronto Weather Anchor Lyndsay Morrison said thunder and lightning has been reported during a sudden snowfall on Wednesday afternoon around downtown Toronto, Burlington, Hamilton, on the QEW toward Niagara, in the Kawarthas, and near Woodstock.
“While thundersnow feels uncommon, it’s certainly not unheard of,” Morrison said.
“What’s unique about this season is that we’ve had two thundersnow events this March where it has happened in the most populated part of our country, so there have been lots of people witnessing it, recording it and reporting it!”
According to the Farmer's Almanac, thunderstorms occur when an air mass becomes so unstable that it overturns violently, usually when drastically different temperatures meet.
Local residents were quick to chronicle the “fast and furious” arrival of the spring snow, paired with a crack of thunder and lightning.
Thundersnow last struck southern Ontario less than a month ago as a major snowstorm hammered the region on March 3.
This time around, on Wednesday, a sharp cold front rushed through Toronto, bringing a “burst of heavy wet snow” after a sunny morning that began to resemble typical spring weather.
Environment Canada issued a weather advisory in Toronto for Wednesday, forecasting one to two centimetres of snow, paired with winds gusting up to 70 km/h.
With files from CTV News Toronto's Abby O'Brien
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Wildfire battles continue under heat, air quality alerts over most of Canada
The battle against hundreds of wildfires continues, as almost every jurisdiction in Canada remains under either heat or air quality warnings from the federal government. The day after what was supposed to be national Clean Air Day, dozens of alerts remain in place for unseasonable heat or smoky air quality.
Are more interest rate hikes on the way? Here's what experts say
In the wake of the Bank of Canada’s unexpected rate hike, economists are pointing to further tightening in the near term.
4 very young children critically wounded in knife attack in French Alpine town
As bystanders screamed for help, a man with a knife stabbed four young children at a lakeside park in the French Alps on Thursday, assaulting at least one in a stroller repeatedly. The children between 22 months and 3 years old suffered life-threatening injuries, and two adults also were wounded, authorities said.
Liberals unveil plan to make hybrid House of Commons sittings permanent
Government House Leader Mark Holland has unveiled the federal Liberals' plans to make hybrid sittings a permanent feature in the House of Commons.
Supreme Court of Canada won't hear unvaccinated woman's case for organ donation
The Supreme Court of Canada will not hear the appeal of an Alberta woman who was unwilling to be vaccinated in order to get a life-saving organ transplant.
10-year-old girl survives more than 24 hours alone in the rugged Cascade mountains after getting lost while out with her family
Rescuers in Washington state are praising the resourcefulness of a 10-year-old girl who survived on her own for more than 24 hours in the rugged terrain of the Cascade mountains after getting lost while out with her family.
'Canada dry': Climatologist Dave Phillips foresees hot, dry summer countrywide
The hot, dry conditions that are fuelling wildfires countrywide are just the beginning of what summer could look like in Canada this year, according to Environment Canada senior climatologist Dave Phillips.
Settlements end $100M class action lawsuit by alleged Manitoulin Island abuse survivors
A $100 million class action lawsuit launched on behalf of alleged victims of sexual abuse by Catholic clergy on Manitoulin Island has been abandoned after the victims reached individual settlements with the church.
WATCH
WATCH | Strawberry Moon creates stunning rainbows over Yosemite waterfalls
Photographer Shreenivasan Manievannan captured lunar rainbows forming over Yosemite National Park waterfalls during the June 2-3 Strawberry Moon.
Montreal
-
WATCH LIVE
WATCH LIVE | Quebec wildfires: fierce fight in Normetal as flames within 500 metres of municipality
Quebec's public security minister preached patience on Thursday as fires continued to rage in the province's north, saying it remained unclear when more than 12,000 people displaced by the encroaching flames would be able to return home.
-
Former Montreal mayor Denis Coderre opens up about life after stroke, depression
Former Montreal mayor Denis Coderre, who spent his life in politics, collapsed and suffered a stroke on April 11, and even as he's slowly recovering, the fighter's instinct, that he's known for, is very much alive.
-
Ontario man charged with first-degree murder in killing of Claudia Iacono outside Montreal salon
An Ontario man has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of Claudia Iacono, the daughter-in-law of Mafia associate Moreno Gallo, after she was gunned down at the wheel of her car in Montreal last month.
London
-
Power out in parts of Exeter
Police, fire and Hydro One are currently on scene attempting to restore power — there is no estimated time for restoration.
-
Man assaulted with baseball bat and knife
According to police, the victim was hit with a baseball bat and then a woman cut the victim with a knife.
-
Why didn’t your ancestors smile? A local museum has the answer
Did you ever wonder why people in early photographs rarely smiled? The answer to that question is part of a new experience called 'Don't Smile' opening this Saturday at the Woodstock Museum.
Kitchener
-
Cyclist taken to hospital after crash in Kitchener
A cyclist has been taken to an out-of-region hospital with what police call “potentially serious injuries” after a crash involving a vehicle in Kitchener.
-
SUV smashes into Kitchener LCBO
Police say no one was seriously hurt when an SUV crashed into the front door of an LCBO in south Kitchener Thursday.
-
No working smoke alarms in fatal Waterloo house fire
Fire officials have confirmed there were no working smoke alarms at a fatal house fire in Waterloo earlier this week.
Northern Ontario
-
Wildfire evacuation order west of Sudbury, Ont., expands, highway closed
A wildfire west of Sudbury, Ont., has quadrupled in size prompting evacuation orders to be expanded and one highway to close.
-
Here's what you need to do before you leave your house in a forest fire-prompted evacuation
Thousands of Canadians have had to leave their homes in several provinces over the last few weeks due to forest fires. Luckily, there are steps you can take to protect your property, both prior to an evacuation and during.
-
Another northern Ont. resident charged for illegal backyard fire, 5th in one week
A fifth person in northern Ontario has been charged in less than a week for having a campfire during the fire ban.
Ottawa
-
Air quality in Ottawa improves briefly, haze expected to return Friday
Smoke and haze from wildfires cleared over Ottawa-Gatineau on Thursday, allowing outdoor recreational programming and activities to resume. Officials warm the smoke and haze could return on Friday afternoon.
-
Bear spotted in Kanata neighbourhood 'safely placed in a cage', police say
Police received a call about a bear sighting in the 500 block of Woodchase Street, near Breckenridge Crescent, at approximately 9 a.m.
-
Year-over-year home sales in Ottawa up 6 per cent in May
The Ottawa Real Estate Board says home sales were up six per cent in May 2023 compared to a year prior, marking the first year-over-year unit sales volume increase since early last year.
Windsor
-
Woman’s body found in Windsor field
Windsor police say they discovered the body of a deceased female in a field near Northway Avenue.
-
Firefighters battling garage fire in east Windsor
Windsor firefighters are responding to an upgraded working garage in east Windsor.
-
Windsor Regional Hospital reducing mask requirements and updating visitor policy
Windsor Regional Hospital is reducing its requirements on masking inside the hospital and updating their essential caregiver (visitor) policy, in compliance with Public Health Ontario guidance.
Barrie
-
HEALTH ALERT
HEALTH ALERT | Wildfire smoke intensifies over Simcoe County
The shifting winds late Thursday morning are predicted to push high levels of air pollution over the City of Barrie and surrounding areas from smoke emanating from wildfires in Quebec and northeastern Ontario.
-
Barrie man, 40, accused of having hundreds of child pornography images faces charges
Police arrested a Barrie man in connection with a lengthy and ongoing child pornography investigation.
-
Early morning house fire in Orangeville claims a life: OPP
One person is dead, and two others are hospitalized following a house fire in Orangeville Thursday morning.
Atlantic
-
Trans, non-binary students under 16 in N.B. need parental consent for pronoun changes
New Brunswick students under the age of 16 who identify as trans and non-binary won't be able to officially change their names or pronouns in school without parental consent.
-
Halifax to announce Thursday when more residents can return home after wildfires
The Halifax Regional Municipality says it will announce Thursday when more residents can return to their homes in communities impacted by the Tantallon wildfires.
-
N.B. shellfish company shuttered over improper storage of shell waste: environment minister
A company at the centre of a community fight over what residents in the town of Beaurivage, N.B. say is a powerful stench has been ordered to cease operations.
Calgary
-
CJAY92 donates $20K to Calgary family whose van was stolen, hurting 5-year-old's T-shirt business
After a string of devastating setbacks, a Calgary family has just had a significant change of luck.
-
Supreme Court of Canada won't hear unvaccinated woman's case for organ donation
The Supreme Court of Canada will not hear the appeal of an Alberta woman who was unwilling to be vaccinated in order to get a life-saving organ transplant.
-
Missing Calgary teen last seen in Woodbine
Calgary police are looking to the public for help locating a missing teenage girl last seen in Woodbine last month.
Winnipeg
-
Man charged in connection to crash that sent two officers to hospital
A 25-year-old man has been arrested in connection with a crash that left two Winnipeg police officers with serious injuries.
-
Premier remains mum on funding to search landfill for remains of two women
Manitoba's premier says a potential search of a Winnipeg-area landfill for the remains of two First Nations women should be led by the federal government and families.
-
Manitoba trustee suspended over posts targeting LGBTQ2S+ community, division says
A Manitoba school trustee has been suspended over social media posts the division says targeted the LGBTQ2S+ community.
Vancouver
-
B.C. launches $1.6M campaign aimed at reducing fire-related injuries, deaths
British Columbia recorded 86 fire-related deaths in 2022, according to the Office of the Fire Commissioner.
-
Argument between 2 men in downtown Kamloops turns violent: RCMP
An argument between two men in downtown Kamloops on Wednesday allegedly resulted in a violent assault.
-
New Vancouver-Nanaimo ferry service announces pricing, launch timing
The new passenger-only ferry service between Vancouver and Nanaimo, Hullo, has announced that it will begin operations this summer.
Edmonton
-
Supreme Court of Canada won't hear unvaccinated woman's case for organ donation
The Supreme Court of Canada will not hear the appeal of an Alberta woman who was unwilling to be vaccinated in order to get a life-saving organ transplant.
-
Early heat in Alberta a 'dress rehearsal' for rest of summer: Environment and Climate Change Canada
Much of Alberta will experience extreme heat starting Thursday and continuing into the weekend, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) is warning.
-
1 hospitalized in 156 Street, 118 Avenue crash
One person was hospitalized after a crash in northwest Edmonton on Wednesday.