Tornado strikes Ayr, Ontario as severe storms bring record rainfall to Greater Toronto Area, Canada

A tornado hit Ayr, Ontario, on Saturday, August 17, 2024, causing extensive damage and forcing evacuations. The storm system then moved southeastward toward the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), where it triggered severe weather warnings and dropped more than a month’s worth of rainfall.

A damaging tornado struck the community of Ayr (population 5 000), in the Township of North Dumfries, Ontario, at around 11:00 local time (LT) on Saturday, August 17, causing extensive damage and prompting evacuations.

North Dumfries Fire Chief Robert Shantz confirmed that the tornado hit at approximately 11:00 local time (LT), following an emergency tornado warning issued by Environment Canada.

The tornado caused substantial damage, particularly to the local Home Hardware store. Chief Shantz reported extensive damage at the store, which, along with surrounding businesses, was evacuated.

No injuries were reported, although North Dumfries fire crews remained on the scene due to a reported smell of natural gas.

The storm system that produced the tornado in Ayr then moved southeastward into the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), bringing severe thunderstorms and record-breaking rainfall.

The storm disrupted operations at Toronto Pearson Airport, where flight diversions and ground delays were reported. Leaks occurred in Terminals 1 and 3, and the Terminal Link Train experienced a temporary service disruption due to water on a platform. Despite these challenges, both terminals remained operational.

Trudy Kidd, a meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada, stated that Pearson International Airport received 78 mm (3.1 inches) of rain by Saturday afternoon, breaking the previous daily record of 27.9 mm (1.1 inches) set on August 17, 1932.

The airport receives an average of 68.5 mm (2.69 inches) of rain during the month of August, making yesterday’s 78 mm (3.1 inches) more than a month’s worth of rain in one day.

The heavy rainfall led to widespread flooding across the GTA, particularly in Mississauga, where roads were submerged, trapping vehicles and pedestrians.

Peel Regional Police reported significant flooding at several intersections, including Rathburn Road West and Mavis Road, and urged residents to avoid these areas due to dangerous conditions.

Environment Canada maintained severe thunderstorm warnings and watches across southern Ontario throughout Saturday, warning of potential wind gusts up to 90 km/h (56 mph), large hail, and heavy rainfall. The agency noted that conditions were favorable for further tornado development.

The Toronto and Region Conservation Authority issued a flood watch through the end of August 18, warning that all shorelines, rivers, and streams in the GTA should be considered dangerous due to rapidly changing water levels and unstable banks.

Conservation Halton also issued a flood outlook statement, warning of possible flooding in low-lying areas, though widespread flooding was not expected.

As the storm system moved through the region, the Township of North Dumfries issued a statement regarding the damage in Ayr, including downed trees, power lines, and structural damage to local buildings.

The township’s sports park was among the damaged sites, and there were ongoing power outages in the high-impact zones. The township warned that the outages could last for an extended period due to serious damage to infrastructure.

While the storm passed by late afternoon, it caused significant damage across the province, with heavy rainfall expected to continue through the weekend.

References:

¹ Tornado touches down in Ont.,causing heavy damage to business – The Weather Network – August 17, 2024

² Flooding, damage reported across Greater Toronto Area amid record-breaking rainfall – CityNews – August 17, 2024

³ Tornado passes through Ontario town as storms cause widespread flooding, damage – The Canadian Press – August 17, 2024

Rishav Kothari

I am an Assistant Editor and Severe Weather & Science Journalist at The Watchers, specializing in real-time severe weather coverage, geophysical event reporting, and research-driven scientific analysis. You can reach me at rishav(at)watchers(.)news.

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