Police and utility providers are responding to power outages and damage reports in southern Ontario on Saturday amid high winds that triggered a widespread warning from Environment Canada.
Utility Hydro One says the outages were affecting more than 7,800 customers as of Saturday afternoon, with more crews installed in anticipation of more storms.
Southern Ontario police forces say they are responding to calls about downed power lines, trees and flying debris.
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Environment Canada Issues Wind Advisory for Most of Southern Ontario
Environment Canada issued wind advisories for virtually the entire southern region of the province, and gusts of 90 to 120 kilometers are expected during the afternoon and evening.
Toronto police issued a tweet saying they were responding to “many reports” of downed wires and trees across the city due to wind shortly after 3pm.
The force is asking people not to call 9-1-1 unless they report injuries.
Tweets from the police force reported dangers from downed trees, traffic lights and scaffolding from a construction site Saturday afternoon.
Matthew Pegg, the city’s fire chief and emergency management chief, also shared a “tip” for residents and safety tips on his Twitter account on Saturday.
“Please stay alert for flying debris as you move through the city of Toronto,” he wrote. “If you find downed lines, stay clear of at least the length of a school bus.”
Waterloo Regional Police said multiple calls had reported downed hydraulic lines, downed trees and debris blown away by high winds.
In a tweet, the police asked people to drive or walk with caution.
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Rain and Wind Advisories Issued for the London-Middlesex Region: Environment Canada
Halton police also shared reports of hanging traffic lights, downed trees and “flying debris” in the region west of Toronto.
In addition to southern Ontario wind advisories, Environment Canada also issued snowfall and winter storm advisories for the northeastern part of the province. Up to 8 inches of snow is expected in areas like Timmins and Sault Ste. Marie.
He says a mixture of freezing rain precipitation and ice or snow pellets was expected as a low-pressure system moved northeast across the Great Lakes.
Reference-globalnews.ca