London bracing for 100 km/h winds, ‘torrential’ rain: Environment Canada

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Environment Canada was warning of 100 kilometres/hour wind gusts as part of a wild storm expected to lash the London area Wednesday evening.

Similar to weather warnings across Ontario, London and surrounding communities were warned to brace for “dangerous thunderstorms” potentially beginning in the afternoon and lasting through the evening, according to Environment Canada. It was expected to include:

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• Heavy downpours
• Nickel-sized hail
• 100 km/h wind gusts

For context, per the U.S. National Weather Service, a “weak” tornado has wind as strong as 104 to177 km/h.

In the London region, the national weather agency offered several cautions about potential hazards related to the storm.

“Strong wind gusts can toss loose objects, damage weak buildings, break branches off trees and overturn large vehicles,” Environment Canada officials said in a statement. “Water-related activities may be unsafe due to violent and sudden gusts of wind over bodies of water.”

People were warned to take cover immediately if “threatening weather” is visible.

A “severe” thunderstorm watch, like the one issued on Wednesday, indicates meteorologists expect large hail, damaging winds or massive rainfall.

The Catfish Creek Conservation Authority oversees land around the Elgin County town of Aylmer, about a 40-minute drive southeast of London. Its officials warned of higher than normal creek levels and possible dangers along banks. Flooding, though, was not expected, they said.

The mix of heat and rain throughout the week was projected to continue in London on Thursday, with a 40 per cent chance of rain and a daytime high of 25 C expected. That’s not far off the average high for the first week of June, just above 22 C.

The forecast calls for the rain to continue all through the weekend, though local temperatures will cool with daytime highs on Friday, Saturday and Sunday of roughly 17 C.

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