Widespread power outages were reported across southern Ontario on Wednesday morning after a series of intense thunderstorms and damaging winds swept through the region Tuesday afternoon and evening.
The storm system brought wind gusts of up to 110 km/h, accompanied by heavy rain and a tornado risk, resulting in damage to infrastructure and downed trees in multiple municipalities.
As of 8:00 a.m., Toronto Hydro reported outages across various neighbourhoods in Toronto, including North York, north Etobicoke, and Scarborough. Utility provider Alectra also confirmed power outages in Mississauga, Guelph, St. Catharines, and Hamilton, with multiple service disruptions across those communities.
Hydro crews worked through the night and into Wednesday morning to restore service as quickly and safely as possible. While power had been restored in some areas by early morning, full restoration in St. Catharines was estimated to occur between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. today.
In addition to power loss, the storm caused significant damage to trees and property. Emergency crews responded to incidents across the region, including a report of a woman injured in Toronto on Tuesday afternoon after a large tree branch fell and struck her.
Residents are advised to exercise caution around downed power lines and debris, report outages to their local utility provider, and stay tuned to official updates regarding service restoration and weather alerts.