Potential tornado 'surreal' for residents who witnessed damaging storm in southern Ontario
Witnessing a potential tornado was “surreal” for residents who caught a glimpse of the damaging storm in southern Ontario on Wednesday night.
At around 9:35 p.m., Mona Ashim, was on her way home from work when a dark funnel cloud could be seen in the distance as lightning flashed across the stormy sky near Alliston, Ont.
“I had never seen anything like that before,” Ashim said. While her husband drove through heavy droplets of rain, she saw a tornado warning pop up on her phone.
- Watch video of a potential tornado in southern Ontario in the player above
Environment Canada released the warning for Newmarket, Bradford, Aurora, East Gwillimbury, Georgina, and Bradford West Gwillimbury. It alerted residents: “This is a dangerous and potentially life-threatening situation.”
Meanwhile, in Bradford, Gabriel Berardo posted a video as the storm brewed. “It looks to be intensifying, actually,” he said around 9 p.m., standing in front of heavy storm clouds and a sky flickering with lightning. “There is rotation on it and it appears to be strengthening.”
Just 30 minutes later, he captured video of a potential tornado. “It’s kind of scary, not going to lie,” he said as a funnel flashed in the distance.
Further south, Ethan Collins posted a video that appeared to be a timelapse of the storm in Newmarket. “This IS NOT a timelapse,” he clarified. “I took this as a tornado warning was issued.”
In the 30-second video, the sky flickered from pitch black to sudden strobes of light.
“The intensity of the lightning was surreal. It was making it hard to see what was going on in the sky,” Collins said Thursday morning recalling watching the storm.
“I knew if I saw large debris flying through the air, it would be time to take shelter. Thankfully it never came to that.”
Northern Tornadoes Project Executive Director Dr. David Sills said nearly all of the severe weather reports his team received on Wednesday were tied to hail – measuring up to 75mm – with very little in the way of wind damage, and no tornado sightings.
Active power outages continued to pepper southern Ontario on Thursday morning. “Our crews are out in full force responding as quickly and safely as possible to outages caused by damaging thunderstorms that continue to affect parts of the province,” Hydro One posted on its website.
“Outages are largely being caused by downed lines from trees or tree limbs,” the statement went on to say, noting the hardest hit areas as Huntsville, Bracebridge, Orillia, Barrie and Penetanguishene.
On Thursday morning, a sunny sky clear of clouds graced southern Ontario.
“While we continue on with the fair but gusty conditions for Friday, the sunshine and seasonably warm weather will be short-lived. Another round of wet/stormy weather moves in Saturday afternoon. Much cooler winds arrive early next week,” CP24 Meteorologist Bill Coulter said.
“Enjoy or endure the early season summer-like warmth while it’s here.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Police identify Michigan splash pad shooter but there's still no word on a motive
Authorities on Sunday identified the man who opened fire at a splash pad in suburban Detroit before taking his own life, but his motives remained unknown as investigators worked to determine if he left behind any hint of his plans.
Ottawa Food Bank receives largest donation in its 40-year history
210,000 pounds of food was delivered to the Ottawa Food Bank on Saturday, the largest donation in its 40-year history.
Less than 10 per cent of homeless shelters N.S. promised last year currently in place
Nova Scotia has installed fewer than 10 per cent of the 200 shelters it promised to set up for the province's homeless residents more than eight months after first making the pledge.
80 countries at Swiss conference agree territorial integrity of Ukraine must be basis of any peace
Eighty countries called Sunday for the 'territorial integrity' of Ukraine to be the basis for any peace agreement to end Russia's two-year war, though some key developing nations at a Swiss conference did not join in and the way forward for diplomacy remains unclear.
No injuries reported after camper engulfed in flames in parking garage: Regina fire
A fire in an underground parking facility in Regina led to no injuries, according to the city's fire department.
'We're in pretty good shape': Calgary goes low in water consumption after state of local emergency declared
On a day that a local state of emergency was declared in Calgary, city residents answered a request from the mayor and emergency officials to use less water.
Halifax chef speaks about traumatic brain injury
Halifax chef Lauren Marshall was working in the Bahamas on a special event in February when she fainted and fell from a golf cart, hitting the back of her head.
Global study ranks two Canadian cities high on list of most expensive places to buy a home
As Canadians continue to struggle with the extremely high cost of buying a home in some of the country’s major urban centres, a new global report is underscoring just how expensive some of those markets are.
Foreign Affairs Minister insists there are no ‘traitors’ in Liberal caucus
Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly insists there are no "traitors" in the Liberal caucus, after a report from the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians (NSICOP) alleged there are MPs and senators who are “semi-witting or witting participants” in foreign interference efforts.