Tornado watches issued for parts of Ontario along with advisories for severe thunderstorms, hail

Tornado watches and severe thunderstorm watches have been issued for parts of southern Ontario Wednesday by Environment Canada. In areas like Windsor, Essex, Chatham-Kent and Rondeau Park in southwestern Ontario, the weather agency warns conditions are favourable for developing severe thunderstorms that could produce tornadoes. The weather agency is also calling for wind gusts near 100 km/h with ping pong-sized hail into the afternoon. Tornado watches for southwestern Ontario“Thunderstorms are developing over Michigan and are expected to track eastward into Ontario. As the Great Lakes are very cold, at this time there is a great deal of uncertainty as to how strong these thunderstorms will be as they cross into Ontario,” reads the tornado watch alert. “Should the cold temperatures of the lakes be overcome, a strong line of thunderstorms that may produce tornadoes cannot be ruled out.”The thunderstorms are expected to move east of the area later in the afternoon. Severe thunderstorms and hail expected for parts of OntarioWeather conditions could see strong wind gusts and even large hail develop through the day in areas like Hamilton, Halton Hills, Milton, Niagara, and St. Catharines, said the weather agency in watches issued Wednesday morning. In an alert issued just before 11 a.m. Wednesday, Environment Canada is warning about the same storms brewing over Michigan and tracking eastward into Ontario, bringing with them severe thunderstorms capable of producing nickel sized hail. People in Toronto and the GTA awoke Wednesday morning to a thunder-and-lightning show in the early hours. No alerts have been issued for Toronto so far, although the area is still experiencing showers or thunderstorms, with a local accumulation of 10 to 20 millimetres of rain. The showers are expected to end before Thursday morning, with a risk of thunderstorms this evening. Nighttime temperatures could climb to 18 C before falling overnight.The agency warns that large hail can damage property and cause injury, and strong wind gusts can damage buildings, break tree branches, and even overturn large vehicles. Emergency Management Ontario recommends that people take cover immediately if faced with “threatening weather.”