Southern Ontario, GTA on alert for storms with flood risk
Prepare for rounds of showers and thunderstorms to sweep over southern Ontario as the remnants of Tropical Storm Debby track east of the region.
Enhanced levels of tropical moisture through the atmosphere will feed the downpours through Friday, leading to a localized flooding risk for some communities.
Allow extra time during the Friday morning commute, and prepare for ponding and standing water on roads. Remember, never try to drive across a flooded roadway.
SEE ALSO: 'It felt like a movie,' says man who saw tornado hit Niagara Region
Risk of localized flooding Thursday night and into Friday
Scattered showers and thunderstorms developing across southern Ontario and the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) will become more numerous overnight Thursday and into early Friday morning.
Some areas could see multiple back-to-back thunderstorms, which raises the risk for localized flooding.
Forecasters are monitoring the potential for a narrow band of training thunderstorms—back-to-back storms moving over the same areas—setting up over communities from the northern shores of Lake Erie around Port Stanley all the way up toward Barrie, including London and Kitchener.
Showers and thunderstorms will persist into Friday morning. The approach of Debby’s remnants to the east will beef up the levels of tropical moisture in the atmosphere over southern Ontario. This enhanced moisture will feed torrential rain at times, which could lead to a threat for localized flooding.
DON'T MISS: Perseid meteor shower promises a celestial extravaganza, here's when
Keep an eye on the radar through Friday morning so you’re not caught unprepared during the morning commute. Remember, never try to drive across a flooded roadway. It’s impossible to tell how deep the water is until it’s too late, and sometimes the road is washed out beneath the floodwaters.
There is still some uncertainty between models as to where the heaviest rainfall will be in southern Ontario. Swaths of heavy rain will depend on where the training thunderstorms set up. While the bulk of the heavy rain will fall over eastern Ontario, portions of southern Ontario west of the GTA could see 20-50 mm of rain beneath the storms.
After the rain has moved out later Friday, folks can expect an early hint of fall over the weekend as temperatures take a dip to below-seasonal. Don't worry, though; the summer heat will be back next week.
Stay with The Weather Network for the latest on your weather across southern Ontario.
