A severe thunderstorm is leaving a trail of chaos in its wake across the Greater Toronto Area and southern Ontario.
Environment Canada placed much of southern Ontario under a severe storm warning on Saturday.
A storm, marked by torrential rain and strong winds, moved from London, Ontario, through Waterloo and into the Greater Toronto Area.
“Take these storms seriously,” Global News chief meteorologist Anthony Farnell said in a tweet on Saturday.
Read more:
Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued for parts of rural Ontario country as long weekend begins
Environment Canada issued a similarly stern warning.
“Environment Canada meteorologists are tracking a very dangerous thunderstorm capable of producing destructive wind gusts, oversized hail and heavy rain,” the warning reads.
“This is a dangerous and life-threatening situation.”
The aftermath of the storm in Toronto.
Global News/Ryan Belgrave
There were widespread reports of downed trees, hydroelectric lines and power outages.
Peel Regional Police said live hydroelectric poles had fallen on a vehicle with its passengers still inside in Mississauga. The force also said hydroelectric lines were down “and on fire” in Brampton.
Peel Police also reported that a tree had fallen on a house and a truck in the Howden Boulevard and Hillpark Trail area of Brampton. “Numerous” traffic lights were reported to be malfunctioning.
Toronto police said some power outages in the city had already been reported as of 1:15 p.m. Non-emergency police lines were closed in Toronto and the public asked to report non-urgent storm problems to the helpline. 311 from the city of Toronto.
“We are responding to disruptions caused by severe storms moving across southwestern Ontario as quickly and safely as possible,” Hydro One tweeted at 1:00 p.m.
The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) said service was disrupted on the Bloor-Danforth subway line after crews were required to clear “track debris” between Kipling stations. and Jane.
Around 1:45 p.m., another subway train ran over a tree and got stuck near Royal York Station.
In York Region, local transit service Viva reported delays of “up to 20 minutes due to weather and road closures.”
Multiple flights scheduled to arrive at Toronto Pearson Airport on Saturday afternoon were recorded as delayed.
“We anticipate that the storm will delay flights overnight,” an airport spokesperson told Global News.
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Reference-globalnews.ca