UPDATE: Severe thunderstorm watch issued for Ottawa, Gatineau
Posted May 21, 2022 03:10:00 PM.
It might be the end of month, but May showers are still going strong as Environment Canada issues a severe thunderstorm watch for the Ottawa and Gatineau areas.
The watch is in effect for Saturday, May 21, and includes all of Ottawa, as well as Lièvre River, low Wakefield, Maniwaki and Gracefield areas, Papineau-Labelle Reserve area and Papineauville and Cjénéville area.
Environment Canada says conditions are favourable for the development of dangerous thunderstorms capable of producing very strong wind guest, large hail and heavy rain this afternoon and this evening.
“Very strong wind gusts can damage buildings, down trees and blow large vehicles off the road,” the weather agency says. “Remember, severe thunderstorms can produce tornadoes.”
Water-related activities may be unsafe due to violent and sudden gusts of wind over bodies of water as well.
“Lightning kills and injures Canadians every year,” it says. ‘Remember, when thunder roars, go indoors.”
Environment Canada says wind gusts have the potential to reach up to 100 km/h.
Nickel to toonie size hail is possible, as well as a tornado.
