Severe thunderstorm warning, watches issued for parts of eastern Ontario, western Quebec
Environment Canada had issued severe thunderstorm warnings for parts of eastern Ontario and western Quebec Tuesday afternoon, as a storm moved east toward Ottawa and Montreal.
Several regions had their thunderstorm watches turn into warnings throughout the afternoon. Those have since ended.
As of Tuesday evening, a warning for areas in and around Cornwall, Ont., remain.
Heavy downpours can cause flash floods, while strong wind gusts can toss objects and damage buildings and trees, warned the agency.
People are asked to take cover immediately as threatening weather approaches, and to beware of lightning.
Environment Canada said the severe thunderstorm watch is expected to last into the evening, and warned people to look out for large hail, torrential rainfall and strong wind gusts.
Warnings end
At about 4:30 p.m., the agency upgraded a thunderstorm watch to a warning for areas around the nation's capital including Kanata, Orléans, and south toward Richmond and Metcalfe in rural Ottawa.
Shortly after, the watch in Gatineau, Que. also upgraded to a warning. Both warnings have since ended.
The warning issued for the east and west Lanark County areas, Sharbot Lake, Smiths Falls and Perth, Ont., have also ended.
Exactly two years ago on May 21, 2022, a destructive wind and thunderstorm called a derecho swept across Ontario into Ottawa, knocking down thousands of trees and knocking out power for days.
Winds reached up to 190 km/h and have claimed the lives of several people, including an Ottawa man who was pinned by a falling tree on a golf course.
