PHOTOS: Major flooding prompts road closures, power outages in Ontario
Multiple rounds of thunderstorms on Tuesday brought one of the wettest days this summer across parts of southern Ontario. Flash floods stranded many drivers and commuters, while power was cut to hundreds of thousands of customers
It's only Tuesday, but it's already been a rain-soaked week in southern Ontario, with training storms on Monday causing flash floods in some communities, including London and Burlington, Ont.
Toronto is also on pace to have its rainiest summer on record.
"And remember," says Weather Network meteorologist Matt Grinter, "we're only halfway through the season."
On Tuesday, a morning torrential downpour added to the already-saturated terrain, raising the risk for additional floods and infrastructure damage.
The downpour cemented the day in the history books, making it one of the rainiest days on record at Toronto Pearson airport.
A total of 97.8 mm of rain has been reported at Toronto Pearson airport.
Closures and power outages
More than 167,000 people were without power at one point following Tuesday's storm, according to Toronto Hydro and the CBC.
Several buses and trains were cancelled or disrupted in Toronto, along with widespread road closures ahead of the rush-hour commute.
Numerous motorists were stranded in their vehicles during the storm, and had to be aided by emergency officials.
People are reminded to never drive, walk, or ride through flood waters. Fifteen centimetres of standing water, sometimes less, can be enough to cause damage to your engine. At about the 30 centimetre mark, a typical car can begin to float—that means no traction and no steering control, leaving you at the mercy of the current. At 60 centimetres, or about two feet, of water, even larger vehicles such as pickup trucks and SUVs are in danger of floating away.
Here's a closer look at the rain situation in photos:
Fierce waterways in Toronto. (Vanessa Pietrantonio)
Flooding in downtown Toronto (Tyler Hamilton/The Weather Network)
Flooding in the Weston neighbourhood in Toronto on July 16, 2024. (Tyler Hamilton/The Weather Network)
WATCH: Here's why you need specific insurance coverage for flooding in Canada
Thumbnail courtesy of Łukasz Rz, taken in Mississauga, Ont.
