Strong, gusty winds prompt weather warnings across southern Ontario

Wind warnings are in effect across southern Ontario for Sunday, as a fast-moving Colorado Low sweeps through the Great Lakes area, bringing rain and strong, gusting winds along with it.

Bands of rain from this weather system have already been passing through southern Ontario since last night, and the rain is continuing throughout the day today. Warm southerly winds started off fairly light this morning, but are growing stronger this afternoon as the centre of this low pressure system draws nearer.

The powerful winds and strong storm cells tracking along with this system have prompted severe thunderstorm warnings, as well as tornado watches and warnings in Illinois, southern Wisconsin, Indiana and Michigan this afternoon. Several tornadoes have been reported passing through western Illinois, and those storm cells will be passing into Indiana and over Lake Michigan soon.

In Ontario, wind speeds of up to 50 km/h are expected this afternoon, and wind gusts could reach up to 70 km/h, but it's the line of powerful winds moving into the province this evening that are prompting the weather warnings. The cold blast of air moving in behind the cold front is expected to pack gusts of up to 90 km/h through tonight and Monday. Those living along the shore of the Great Lakes and along higher ground could see these gusts top 100 km/h at times.

The wind warnings issued by Environment Canada are in effect from Windsor to Kingston, and north into the Bruce Peninsula and around Georgian Bay through Parry Sound and Sudbury to Sault Ste. Marie. Forecasters are warning that these winds will be strong enough to damage trees and cause problems for anyone on the roads — especially those traveling on the highways as they'll be subjected to powerful crosswinds.

A line of storms crossed into Ontario this evening, that were capable of wind gusts up to 90 km/h, large hail and heavy downpours. Severe thunderstorm watches and warnings were called as these storms tracked through southwestern regions of the province, but these alerts ended shortly thereafter, as the storms lost their strength.

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The rain is expected to persist until Monday morning, and the gusty conditions will continue as well. Temperatures are only getting up to a few degrees above freezing for the first few days of the work-week, and winds shifting to westerly and northwesterly behind this weather system will likely produce more snow squalls off of Lake Huron and Georgian Bay starting sometime on Tuesday.

Check back here throughout the day for more updates on this developing weather system in Ontario.

(Photo courtesy: Darren Calabrese/The Canadian Press)

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