PHOTOS: First taste of summer heat in southern Ontario brings severe storms
A batch of severe thunderstorms fired off in southern Ontario on Tuesday, amid a summer-like air mass, producing damaging wind gusts, torrential downpours and hail in some locales. The storms downed hydro poles and trees in multiple areas, leading to widespread power outages
On Tuesday, southern Ontario's first real taste of summer-like heat and humidex this year worked with a cold front to set up a bout of severe storms in parts of the region.
In the afternoon and evening, thunderstorms became more organized sparking off multiple warnings rather quickly as the cells pushed across. Some regions in southern Ontario experienced a couple rounds of thunderstorms.
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Tree damage in Guelph, Ont. (Mark Robinson/The Weather Network)
The storms produced everything from torrential downpours to hail and potent wind gusts, with a gust exceeding 90 km/h in Hamilton––outside of a thunderstorm. Some of the winds documented in the thunderstorms reportedly hit the 70-100+ km/h range. A 102 km/h wind gust was observed at Toronto's Pearson International Airport.
As well, there was a 92 km/h wind gust at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport––its strongest wind since December 2022 and the most potent April gust since 2009.
Trees were downed in communities such as Collingwood, Guelph and London as a result of the winds, which were also strong enough to bring down some hydro poles in the latter, as reported on X, leading to power outages.
Tree damage in London, Ont. (Morgan Leblanc/X/@morgantleblanc)
There were also widespread power outages in southern and eastern Ontario, with about 100,000 customers in the dark at one point, according to Hydro One.
The risk of thunderstorms existed throughout most of the day across southern Ontario, but the timing of the strongest storms occurred during the 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. timeline.
Thunderstorm northeast of Orillia, Ont. (Nathan Howes/The Weather Network)
There was cool air aloft, helping to build strong, sustained updrafts in the severe storms. Hail was documented in some of the storms. There was also a tornado risk for a short-lived period of time, but nothing materialized.
Temperatures were upwards 8°C-10°C above seasonal with dew points sitting near 20°C on Tuesday afternoon—-highly anomalous for April.
Tuesday's warmth and stormy weather didn't last, however, as a noticeable cooldown began Tuesday overnight and will continue on Wednesday.
Beyond that, cooler-than-seasonal temperatures will dominate during early May, including a threat for a frost or freeze, especially outside of the urban areas. Also, another significant low-pressure system is expected by Thursday night with widespread rain, followed by a reinforcing shot of chilly weather.
Below is just a selection of visuals of the storms that have surfaced on social media.
WATCH: Video from the powerful thunderstorms in Ontario and Quebec
WATCH: Car crushed as Ontario storm knocks down trees across the province
Be sure to check back for all the latest on your forecast across Ontario.