Severe thunderstorm watch over in most of Ontario

Storm clouds roll over the skyline in Toronto on Thursday, July 26, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Mark Blinch

Multiple regions of Ontario were under a severe thunderstorm watch Wednesday afternoon, with Environment Canada warning of “nickel to ping pong ball” sized hail.

At 11:40 a.m., Environment Canada issued a variety of watches from Barrie to Windsor. Before 2 p.m., the weather warnings that were previously in effect for areas like Grey-Bruce ended and by 5 p.m. the warnings in most regions - with the exception of Parry Sound, Peterborough and the Muskokas in southern Ontario - had been lifted.

Previously, the Weather Network said there is a “severe storm potential” for the Greater Toronto Area. 

“As we head into fall, these storms take on a bit of a different form compared to summer storms. Winds from the low-pressure system will become stronger and more widespread due [to] the strength of the cold front, or how much the temperatures drop, as well as the wind shear in the storm," Matt Grinter, a meteorologist at The Weather Network, said.

According to Environment Canada, the storms were forecasted to carry out through the afternoon, with winds of up to 100 km/h expected in some areas.

"Large hail can damage property and cause injury,”a weather watch for Grey-Bruce read.

“Strong wind gusts can toss loose objects, damage weak buildings, break branches off trees and overturn large vehicles."

Environment Canada encouraged Ontarians to keep up to date with their weather alerts and forecasts, and reminded residents can report severe weather by tweeting #ONStorm or emailing [e-mail].