Severe Storms Hit Southern Ontario, Causing Damage

A strong line of severe thunderstorms moved through southern Ontario on Wednesday, bringing high winds, hail, heavy rain, and tornado warnings.

The storms knocked down trees and power lines across the area, leading to localized flooding due to the intense rainfall. Around 7:25 p. m. EDT on Wednesday, CP24 reported that police were rescuing people from flooded cars in Toronto after a heavy downpour left about 65,000 residents without electricity.

Jane Street and Highway 7 flooding and rescue operation in Vaughan, Ont. (Jeremy Cohn/Submitted to The Weather Network)

In another report, a rescue operation took place at the Jane Street and Highway 7 intersection in Vaughan, Ont., where significant flooding had occurred. Many vehicles were stranded in floodwaters while the Vaughan Fire and Rescue Service carried out rescues. It was noted that around 20 vehicles were caught in the floods.

Numerous road closures and accidents were reported throughout the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) as a result of both flooding and strong winds. Additionally, several events were either postponed or cancelled.

Many areas received between 20-130+ mm of rain quickly, which caused flooding issues on local roads.

Rainfall accumulation as of 6:00 p. m. EDT on Sept. 2

At the peak of the storm, Hydro One reported over 155,000 power outages across southern regions of the province.

The storm generated powerful wind gusts reaching over 100 km/h in some communities as it passed through.

Hail was also an issue; one hail core measured more than 5 cm in certain parts of the Greater Toronto Area.

A new round of thunderstorms is expected to develop over southern Ontario during Thursday but should be less severe than those experienced earlier.

Check out some images showing damage and effects from Wednesday’s storms below.

Bathurst and Dupont in Toronto flooded. (The Weather Network)

Damage reported at Rogers Stadium. (Courtesy: Ontario Storm Reports/Ti-An De Martines via Facebook)

Tree damage in Brantford. (The Weather Network)

Shelf cloud at YYZ at roughly 5 p. m. Sep 2, 2026. (Jeff Taylor/provided)

Storm damage with downed power lines and trees reported in East York around 5:00 p. m. EDT on Sept. 2, 2026. (The Weather Network)

Hail reported in uptown Toronto around 5:00 p. m. EDT.
(Rachel West/The Weather Network)



(The Weather Network).
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Hail reported

Eerie sky seen downtown toronto , affecting weather conditions , anticipated disturbances forecast ahead.

Downed trees observed within richmond hill.(Tristan Flear-Hilts/submitted )

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A photo captured near Fergus , ontario around approximately two thirty pm edt,.

a freelance journalist with The Weather Network..

With files from Jeremy Cohn, a freelance journalist with The Weather Network.

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