Published : 03 Sep 2026, 11:32 PM
Updated : 16 Sep 2026, 11:47 AM
A powerful thunderstorm swept through Toronto on Wednesday, damaging buildings, closing roads and cutting power to tens of thousands of residents across Canada's largest city.
According to Al Jazeera, the storm brought torrential rain, strong winds and large hail, prompting tornado watches and warnings in parts of the region. At least 45,000 customers were left without electricity as of 8pm local time Wednesday, according to electricity provider Toronto Hydro.
CBC reported that fallen trees and flooding forced road closures across the city, including on the Don Valley Parkway. Michael Garron Hospital in Toronto's East York community said flooding affected its emergency department, while images published by the CBC showed cars nearly submerged in the city of Vaughan, north of Toronto.
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow said in a post on X that the city's emergency operations centre had been activated since Wednesday morning. "City crews are already out responding to downed power wires, fallen trees, flooding and more," she said, adding that the Toronto Transit Commission were working to restore subway and bus services disrupted by flooding and storm debris.
Dozens of flights scheduled to depart Toronto Pearson International Airport on Wednesday evening were delayed or cancelled, Al Jazeera reported.
Canada's weather agency, Environment and Climate Change Canada, has since lifted its orange warning for severe thunderstorms in the Greater Toronto Area. However, a yellow alert for heat and severe thunderstorms remained in effect over parts of southwestern Ontario.
