PHOTOS: Tornadoes, large hail, and flooding strike Ontario, Quebec on Thursday
If it’s another summer afternoon in Central Canada, it’s another round of powerful thunderstorms hitting portions of Ontario and Quebec.
Severe thunderstorms swept through eastern Ontario and southern Quebec during the afternoon and evening hours on Thursday, leaving behind potential tornado damage and hailstones that grew as large as golf balls in some spots.
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There were at least two confirmed tornadoes - one in Metcalfe and one in Vars, Ont., both suburbs of Ottawa. EF ratings for these tornadoes are yet to be determined as experts survey the storm damage in the area.
Thursday’s reported damage is very close to the community of Barrhaven, which was hit by an EF-1 tornado in severe storms that hammered the region back on July 13. Another intense supercell thunderstorm struck the region on July 28, pelting the National Capital Region with very large hail.
PHOTOS: See the intense hailstorm that slammed the Ottawa area on July 28
The storms were a stark reversal from conditions we saw just a couple of days ago. The same dip in the jet stream that brought cooler temperatures to start the month also spawned a low-pressure system that drew warm, muggy air back into the region, setting the stage for nasty thunderstorms through the day Thursday.
Tornado watches were issued across the region as strong winds aloft created a favourable environment for those severe storms to rotate. The National Capital Region endured two separate tornado warnings on Thursday afternoon as strong storms passed through Ottawa.
High levels of instability allowed many of Thursday’s thunderstorms to produce some mighty hailstones, some of which reportedly grew to the size of golf balls, especially in the Kawartha Lakes area.
Residents in the Peterborough area also saw localized flooding as vehicles were stranded in flooded parking lots, streets were closed to traffic and some had to be helped exit their stranded vehicles.
Folks throughout eastern Ontario and southern Quebec snapped pictures and videos of the severe storms as they hit the region. Check out visuals from some of the most intense storms and their aftermath, below.
Some rotation at the airport #ONStorm #Ottawa #cyow pic.twitter.com/Pe2suSoxyK
Some rotation at the airport Chuck Roberts on Twitter: "Some rotation at the airport #ONStorm #Ottawa #cyow pic.twitter.com/Pe2suSoxyK / Twitter" Chuck Roberts on Twitter: "Some rotation at the airport #ONStorm #Ottawa #cyow pic.twitter.com/Pe2suSoxyK / Twitter" Chuck Roberts on Twitter: "Some rotation at the airport #ONStorm #Ottawa #cyow pic.twitter.com/Pe2suSoxyK / Twitter" Chuck Roberts on Twitter: "Some rotation at the airport #ONStorm #Ottawa #cyow pic.twitter.com/Pe2suSoxyK / Twitter"
— Chuck Roberts (@123ckr) Chuck Roberts on Twitter: "Some rotation at the airport #ONStorm #Ottawa #cyow pic.twitter.com/Pe2suSoxyK / Twitter"
Toonie sized hailed recorded after melting (outside of where it went purple). #onstorm #cameron pic.twitter.com/C9asju7V4z
Toonie sized hailed recorded after melting (outside of where it went purple). Troy Boone on Twitter: "Toonie sized hailed recorded after melting (outside of where it went purple). #onstorm #cameron pic.twitter.com/C9asju7V4z / Twitter" Troy Boone on Twitter: "Toonie sized hailed recorded after melting (outside of where it went purple). #onstorm #cameron pic.twitter.com/C9asju7V4z / Twitter" Troy Boone on Twitter: "Toonie sized hailed recorded after melting (outside of where it went purple). #onstorm #cameron pic.twitter.com/C9asju7V4z / Twitter"
— Troy Boone (@derecho_series) Troy Boone on Twitter: "Toonie sized hailed recorded after melting (outside of where it went purple). #onstorm #cameron pic.twitter.com/C9asju7V4z / Twitter"
Tornado warned near Kinburn. #ONStorm pic.twitter.com/MGeIJgyK23
Tornado warned near Kinburn. Mark Robinson on Twitter: "Tornado warned near Kinburn. #ONStorm pic.twitter.com/MGeIJgyK23 / Twitter" Mark Robinson on Twitter: "Tornado warned near Kinburn. #ONStorm pic.twitter.com/MGeIJgyK23 / Twitter"
— Mark Robinson (@StormhunterTWN) Mark Robinson on Twitter: "Tornado warned near Kinburn. #ONStorm pic.twitter.com/MGeIJgyK23 / Twitter"
Just lost half a tree when #ONStorm passed by. It survived the derecho, but not this one. pic.twitter.com/zNBbEOLyd3
Just lost half a tree when Alkorin 🇨🇦 🦌 🎸🗿 on Twitter: "Just lost half a tree when #ONStorm passed by. It survived the derecho, but not this one. pic.twitter.com/zNBbEOLyd3 / Twitter" passed by. It survived the derecho, but not this one. Alkorin 🇨🇦 🦌 🎸🗿 on Twitter: "Just lost half a tree when #ONStorm passed by. It survived the derecho, but not this one. pic.twitter.com/zNBbEOLyd3 / Twitter"
— Alkorin 🇨🇦 🦌 🎸🗿 (@Alkorin) Alkorin 🇨🇦 🦌 🎸🗿 on Twitter: "Just lost half a tree when #ONStorm passed by. It survived the derecho, but not this one. pic.twitter.com/zNBbEOLyd3 / Twitter"
Rough day to be a tree... or a truck in Lindsay #ONStorm pic.twitter.com/cyC4plXu3X
Rough day to be a tree… or a truck in Lindsay KELLY DAVEY 👩🏼🏫✨ on Twitter: "Rough day to be a tree... or a truck in Lindsay #ONStorm pic.twitter.com/cyC4plXu3X / Twitter" KELLY DAVEY 👩🏼🏫✨ on Twitter: "Rough day to be a tree... or a truck in Lindsay #ONStorm pic.twitter.com/cyC4plXu3X / Twitter"
— KELLY DAVEY 👩🏼🏫✨ (@MsDavey) KELLY DAVEY 👩🏼🏫✨ on Twitter: "Rough day to be a tree... or a truck in Lindsay #ONStorm pic.twitter.com/cyC4plXu3X / Twitter"
The #ONStorm parting gift. Hail pile. ⛈️Near Parry Sound, ON. pic.twitter.com/PnJCfID4Wm
The Nicole Karkic on Twitter: "The #ONStorm parting gift. Hail pile. ⛈️Near Parry Sound, ON. pic.twitter.com/PnJCfID4Wm / Twitter" parting gift.
Hail pile. ⛈️
Near Parry Sound, ON. Nicole Karkic on Twitter: "The #ONStorm parting gift. Hail pile. ⛈️Near Parry Sound, ON. pic.twitter.com/PnJCfID4Wm / Twitter"— Nicole Karkic (@NicoleKarkic) Nicole Karkic on Twitter: "The #ONStorm parting gift. Hail pile. ⛈️Near Parry Sound, ON. pic.twitter.com/PnJCfID4Wm / Twitter"
ONStorm RSS pic.twitter.com/nLjuMQJm4J
Rob Brooks on Twitter: "#ONStorm RSS pic.twitter.com/nLjuMQJm4J / Twitter" RSS Rob Brooks on Twitter: "#ONStorm RSS pic.twitter.com/nLjuMQJm4J / Twitter"
— Rob Brooks (@runningwithrob) Rob Brooks on Twitter: "#ONStorm RSS pic.twitter.com/nLjuMQJm4J / Twitter"
Holy hell man #onstorm pic.twitter.com/dKzj2EeDyD
Holy hell man Summer Dman on Twitter: "Holy hell man #onstorm pic.twitter.com/dKzj2EeDyD / Twitter" Summer Dman on Twitter: "Holy hell man #onstorm pic.twitter.com/dKzj2EeDyD / Twitter"
— Summer Dman (@LifeofaDman) Summer Dman on Twitter: "Holy hell man #onstorm pic.twitter.com/dKzj2EeDyD / Twitter"
pic.twitter.com/b7mKPgMGgd
Troy Boone on Twitter: "pic.twitter.com/b7mKPgMGgd / Twitter"
— Troy Boone (@derecho_series) Troy Boone on Twitter: "pic.twitter.com/b7mKPgMGgd / Twitter"
This is what the sky over Prince Edward County currently looks like Thursday afternoon as the area is under severe thunderstorm watch. Eerie to say the least. #Onstorm pic.twitter.com/rs6jNL8UQj
This is what the sky over Prince Edward County currently looks like Thursday afternoon as the area is under severe thunderstorm watch. Eerie to say the least. Corné Van Hoepen on Twitter: "This is what the sky over Prince Edward County currently looks like Thursday afternoon as the area is under severe thunderstorm watch. Eerie to say the least. #Onstorm pic.twitter.com/rs6jNL8UQj / Twitter" Corné Van Hoepen on Twitter: "This is what the sky over Prince Edward County currently looks like Thursday afternoon as the area is under severe thunderstorm watch. Eerie to say the least. #Onstorm pic.twitter.com/rs6jNL8UQj / Twitter"
— Corné Van Hoepen (@Cvanhoepen) Corné Van Hoepen on Twitter: "This is what the sky over Prince Edward County currently looks like Thursday afternoon as the area is under severe thunderstorm watch. Eerie to say the least. #Onstorm pic.twitter.com/rs6jNL8UQj / Twitter"
Heavy rain and a ton of hail here in Havelock-Belmont-Methuen. @weathernetwork @IWeatherON #ONStorm pic.twitter.com/cONFtJXLUK
Heavy rain and a ton of hail here in Havelock-Belmont-Methuen. ⚕️🩺Nurse 𝐸𝓁𝓁𝑒𝒟𝓊𝒷𝓏🩺⚕️ on Twitter: "Heavy rain and a ton of hail here in Havelock-Belmont-Methuen. @weathernetwork @IWeatherON #ONStorm pic.twitter.com/cONFtJXLUK / Twitter" ⚕️🩺Nurse 𝐸𝓁𝓁𝑒𝒟𝓊𝒷𝓏🩺⚕️ on Twitter: "Heavy rain and a ton of hail here in Havelock-Belmont-Methuen. @weathernetwork @IWeatherON #ONStorm pic.twitter.com/cONFtJXLUK / Twitter" ⚕️🩺Nurse 𝐸𝓁𝓁𝑒𝒟𝓊𝒷𝓏🩺⚕️ on Twitter: "Heavy rain and a ton of hail here in Havelock-Belmont-Methuen. @weathernetwork @IWeatherON #ONStorm pic.twitter.com/cONFtJXLUK / Twitter" ⚕️🩺Nurse 𝐸𝓁𝓁𝑒𝒟𝓊𝒷𝓏🩺⚕️ on Twitter: "Heavy rain and a ton of hail here in Havelock-Belmont-Methuen. @weathernetwork @IWeatherON #ONStorm pic.twitter.com/cONFtJXLUK / Twitter"
— ⚕️🩺Nurse 𝐸𝓁𝓁𝑒𝒟𝓊𝒷𝓏🩺⚕️ (@_LADubz) ⚕️🩺Nurse 𝐸𝓁𝓁𝑒𝒟𝓊𝒷𝓏🩺⚕️ on Twitter: "Heavy rain and a ton of hail here in Havelock-Belmont-Methuen. @weathernetwork @IWeatherON #ONStorm pic.twitter.com/cONFtJXLUK / Twitter"
Some ominous clouds just outside of Orillia #ONStorm #onwx pic.twitter.com/CiJdbmeXJp
Some ominous clouds just outside of Orillia Ana on Twitter: "Some ominous clouds just outside of Orillia #ONStorm #onwx pic.twitter.com/CiJdbmeXJp / Twitter" Ana on Twitter: "Some ominous clouds just outside of Orillia #ONStorm #onwx pic.twitter.com/CiJdbmeXJp / Twitter" Ana on Twitter: "Some ominous clouds just outside of Orillia #ONStorm #onwx pic.twitter.com/CiJdbmeXJp / Twitter"
— Ana (@_Valana) Ana on Twitter: "Some ominous clouds just outside of Orillia #ONStorm #onwx pic.twitter.com/CiJdbmeXJp / Twitter"
@meteomedia Grêle à Gatineau (Aylmer) présentement. pic.twitter.com/REO8a2jycM
Alain Saumure on Twitter: "@meteomedia Grêle à Gatineau (Aylmer) présentement. pic.twitter.com/REO8a2jycM / Twitter" Grêle à Gatineau (Aylmer) présentement. Alain Saumure on Twitter: "@meteomedia Grêle à Gatineau (Aylmer) présentement. pic.twitter.com/REO8a2jycM / Twitter"
— Alain Saumure (@madfolk67) Alain Saumure on Twitter: "@meteomedia Grêle à Gatineau (Aylmer) présentement. pic.twitter.com/REO8a2jycM / Twitter"
Might need some body work :-) #hail #gatineau #ottawa #ONStorm #ShareYourWeather #StormHour pic.twitter.com/4foH6mdlWy
Might need some body work :-) Pat Murphy 🇨🇦 🇺🇦 🐕 on Twitter: "Might need some body work :-) #hail #gatineau #ottawa #ONStorm #ShareYourWeather #StormHour pic.twitter.com/4foH6mdlWy / Twitter" Pat Murphy 🇨🇦 🇺🇦 🐕 on Twitter: "Might need some body work :-) #hail #gatineau #ottawa #ONStorm #ShareYourWeather #StormHour pic.twitter.com/4foH6mdlWy / Twitter" Pat Murphy 🇨🇦 🇺🇦 🐕 on Twitter: "Might need some body work :-) #hail #gatineau #ottawa #ONStorm #ShareYourWeather #StormHour pic.twitter.com/4foH6mdlWy / Twitter" Pat Murphy 🇨🇦 🇺🇦 🐕 on Twitter: "Might need some body work :-) #hail #gatineau #ottawa #ONStorm #ShareYourWeather #StormHour pic.twitter.com/4foH6mdlWy / Twitter" Pat Murphy 🇨🇦 🇺🇦 🐕 on Twitter: "Might need some body work :-) #hail #gatineau #ottawa #ONStorm #ShareYourWeather #StormHour pic.twitter.com/4foH6mdlWy / Twitter" Pat Murphy 🇨🇦 🇺🇦 🐕 on Twitter: "Might need some body work :-) #hail #gatineau #ottawa #ONStorm #ShareYourWeather #StormHour pic.twitter.com/4foH6mdlWy / Twitter" Pat Murphy 🇨🇦 🇺🇦 🐕 on Twitter: "Might need some body work :-) #hail #gatineau #ottawa #ONStorm #ShareYourWeather #StormHour pic.twitter.com/4foH6mdlWy / Twitter"
— Pat Murphy 🇨🇦 🇺🇦 🐕 (@geekchef) Pat Murphy 🇨🇦 🇺🇦 🐕 on Twitter: "Might need some body work :-) #hail #gatineau #ottawa #ONStorm #ShareYourWeather #StormHour pic.twitter.com/4foH6mdlWy / Twitter"
Supercell in Ottawa #onstorm #supercell pic.twitter.com/sx5pyeEkbc
Supercell in Ottawa Gustavo Furlanetto on Twitter: "Supercell in Ottawa #onstorm #supercell pic.twitter.com/sx5pyeEkbc / Twitter" Gustavo Furlanetto on Twitter: "Supercell in Ottawa #onstorm #supercell pic.twitter.com/sx5pyeEkbc / Twitter" Gustavo Furlanetto on Twitter: "Supercell in Ottawa #onstorm #supercell pic.twitter.com/sx5pyeEkbc / Twitter"
— Gustavo Furlanetto (@GautrStafr) Gustavo Furlanetto on Twitter: "Supercell in Ottawa #onstorm #supercell pic.twitter.com/sx5pyeEkbc / Twitter"
Header image courtesy of Shannon in Lindsay, Ontario.