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
Poilievre threatens to filibuster budget bill if Liberals don't meet demands
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is threatening to use procedural tools to delay passage of the federal budget in the House of Commons if the Liberals don't meet his demands.
Conservatives call on feds to see killer Bernardo returned to maximum-security prison
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is calling on the federal government to use whatever tools it can to reverse a decision by the Correctional Service of Canada to transfer killer Paul Bernardo to a medium-security prison.
EXCLUSIVE
EXCLUSIVE | Feds providing $1.5M for increased security at Pride events across Canada
The federal government will be providing $1.5 million to Pride organizations across the country for increased security measures at parades and other events this year, CTV News has learned.
Prince Harry a no-show on first day of court showdown with British tabloid publisher
Prince Harry's phone hacking trial against the publisher of the Daily Mirror kicked off Monday without him present -- and the judge was not happy.
Flair tops Canadian airlines with average number of complaints per 100 flights: CTA
The Canadian Transportation Agency says Flair Airlines Ltd. has the highest number of complaints per 100 flights of all the major airlines in Canada, as airlines have had a rocky recovery year with delayed and cancelled flights.
WATCH
WATCH | Safety campaign shows falls, close calls involving kids in train stations
Australia's transit society Queensland Rail is using CCTV video of real-life falls and near-miss involving children at train stations in a new safety campaign.
Anand: China irresponsible over Taiwan Strait collision risk with Canada, U.S. ships
Defence Minister Anita Anand says Beijing acted irresponsibly on the weekend in the Taiwan Strait, where Washington says a Chinese warship forced a U.S. vessel to avoid a collision near a Canadian frigate.
WATCH LIVE
WATCH LIVE | Wildfire risk remains well above average across Canada this month
An area of land 11 times bigger than the city of Toronto burned from wildfires in the past four days -- Canada's worst spring wildfire season to date.
Apple is expected to unveil a sleek, pricey headset. Is it the device VR has been looking for?
Apple appears poised to unveil a long-rumoured headset that will place its users between the virtual and real world, while also testing the technology trendsetter's ability to popularize new-fangled devices after others failed to capture the public's imagination.
Montreal
-
OBITUARY
OBITUARY | Editor of Montreal's only newspaper for Black community, Egbert Gaye, has died at 67
Community Contact newspaper managing editor Egbert Gaye has died. He was 67 years old. He founded the newspaper 31 years ago to serve Montreal's English-speaking Black and Caribbean populations.
-
Quebec forest fires continue to rise, with more than 160 active in the province
The number of forest fires continues to rise in Quebec, while evacuation orders are being maintained for several areas of Sept-Îles, on the North Shore. Minister of Employment and Minister responsible for the North Shore region Kateri Champagne Jourdain said on Monday morning that 164 forest fires were currently burning across Quebec, compared with 156 the previous day.
-
Conservatives call on feds to see killer Bernardo returned to maximum-security prison
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is calling on the federal government to use whatever tools it can to reverse a decision by the Correctional Service of Canada to transfer killer Paul Bernardo to a medium-security prison.
London
-
Life-threatening injuries after Elgin County crash
A person from St. Thomas is in hospital with life-threatening injuries after a crash in Elgin County over the weekend.
-
Charges laid after incident in Londesborough on Sunday
OPP responded to the village around 12:15 p.m. for a call about a man holding a knife and damaging property.
-
'Normal' temperatures return to the London region
A much more seasonal week, temperature wise, is on the way for the London area. The sunshine remains but temperatures will drop a few degrees to between 20 C and 24 C — the normal for this time of year being around 24 C.
Kitchener
-
Fatal fire under investigation in Waterloo
Waterloo Regional Police are investigating a fatal fire in Waterloo.
-
Police warn people with this model of car to take extra precautions
It comes amid what police say is a growing number of thefts targeting the model.
-
Kitchener business owner reeling after intentional fire scorches building
A business owner in Kitchener says he’s feeling defeated after his business caught fire again early Sunday morning.
Northern Ontario
-
Evacuation notice issued for residents as forest fire burns near Calabogie, Ont.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry says the fire in the Centennial Lake area was reported just after 5:30 p.m. Sunday.
-
No survivors found after plane that flew over DC and led to fighter jet scramble crashes in Virginia
A wayward and unresponsive business plane that flew over the nation's capital Sunday afternoon caused the military to scramble a fighter jet before the plane crashed in Virginia, officials said. The fighter jet caused a loud sonic boom that was heard across the capital region.
-
Increase in mosquitoes 'a trend' across Canada this year. Here's why
Mosquitoes have always been pesky, but this spring it seems the bloodsuckers are thirstier than ever, a trend one expert says is increasing.
Ottawa
-
Evacuation notice issued for residents as forest fire burns near Calabogie, Ont.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry says the fire in the Centennial Lake area was reported just after 5:30 p.m. Sunday.
-
AIR QUALITY STATEMENT
AIR QUALITY STATEMENT | Smoky conditions expected in Ottawa on Monday
Environment Canada is warning hazy conditions will become widespread smoke near noon Monday due to wildfires.
-
Police seek witnesses to fatal crash on Carling Avenue
Ottawa police are asking for witnesses to a fatal crash on Carling Avenue over the weekend to come forward.
Windsor
-
Windsor police team up with pharmacists to help deter robberies
Windsor police are hoping a partnership with local and regional pharmacists will help deter pharmacy robberies and protect pharmacy teams and patients.
-
Walk of Solidarity planned in Windsor for Afzaal family
A Walk of Solidarity is planned in Windsor to honour the second anniversary of a family struck and killed in London, Ont.
-
Chatham man arrested for theft, found with drugs
A 28-year-old man is charged with theft, possession of stolen property, resisting arrest, and possessing a controlled substance
Barrie
-
One person charged in Collingwood homicide
One person has been charged with second-degree murder after a 33-year-old man was killed in Collingwood on Friday.
-
Highway 27 closed after serious crash near Elmvale
A motorcycle driver is in serious condition after an early Monday morning crash in Phelpston.
-
3-vehicle crash sends three people to hospital in Tiny Township
Three people are in hospital after three vehicles collided in Tiny Township.
Atlantic
-
Uncertainty remains for Halifax-area evacuees as wildfire 100 per cent contained
A wildfire that tore through homes and businesses in the Halifax area is 100 per cent contained, but a historic fire in southwestern Nova Scotia remains out of control.
-
Weather conditions ground aircraft covering Shelburne County wildfire
Crews fighting an out-of-control wildfire in southwestern Nova Scotia are trying to determine what impact weekend rain had on their efforts.
-
Nova Scotians' personal information stolen in global security breach: province
The Nova Scotia government says it is investigating the theft of personal information stolen through a global privacy breach to a third-party file transfer system the province was using.
Calgary
-
Peace officer's vehicle struck during Newell County, Alta., traffic stop
Officials say no one was injured, but an investigation is ongoing after a peace officer's vehicle was struck "at a high rate of speed" during a traffic stop on Friday.
-
Understanding the deal: Critics skeptical of Calgary event centre agreement ahead of Monday’s public meeting
A public meeting will give Calgarians an inside look into the exact details of an agreement in principle that could land the city a new event centre, but critics are already skeptical of the cost breakdown.
-
Calgary '88 Olympic Games leader Bob Niven dead at 80
One of the men who brought the Winter Olympic Games to Calgary in 1988 has died.
Winnipeg
-
Winnipeg bridge construction project cost increasing
The price tag for the St. Vital Bridge project is going up.
-
Here is how much rain fell in Manitoba over the weekend
As thunderstorms touched down in Manitoba over the weekend, a number of communities were hit with more than 50 millimetres (mm) of rain.
-
Nearly 10,000 people walk in Winnipeg Pride Parade
Sunday saw the largest Pride Parade in Winnipeg’s history.
Vancouver
-
Speed believed to be factor in fatal collision in Abbotsford: police
A crash involving a car and motorcycle in Abbotsford Sunday night has turned fatal, according to police.
-
Where fire crews battled blazes across B.C.'s coast over the weekend
Crews with the Coastal Fire Centre had a busy weekend fighting seven new blazes, including one near Lions Bay.
-
B.C. premier says Asia trade mission aims to reduce risks amid international unease
British Columbia Premier David Eby says his trade mission to Asia is part of an effort to grow trade and reduce the risks that come with international uncertainties.
Edmonton
-
Edmonton teen missing after being swept away in North Saskatchewan River: police
A 14-year-old swimmer is believed to have been caught in a current and swept downstream in the North Saskatchewan River.
-
Flair tops Canadian airlines with average number of complaints per 100 flights: CTA
The Canadian Transportation Agency says Flair Airlines Ltd. has the highest number of complaints per 100 flights of all the major airlines in Canada, as airlines have had a rocky recovery year with delayed and cancelled flights.
-
EXCLUSIVE
EXCLUSIVE | Feds providing $1.5M for increased security at Pride events across Canada
The federal government will be providing $1.5 million to Pride organizations across the country for increased security measures at parades and other events this year, CTV News has learned.