Crews are continuing to clean up from severe thunderstorms that caused widespread flooding across Toronto on Wednesday.
Thousands of people are still without electricity after destructive winds knocked down trees and power lines.
Several major roadways, including the Don Valley Parkway, have now reopened.
- Your hourly and 7-day forecast on our CP24.com weather hub
- IN PHOTOS: Toronto hit by thunderstorm
- A recap of yesterday’s destructive storm
Key details
- All lanes of the Don Valley Parkway are now open between Bloor Street and the Gardiner Expressway.
- The TRCA said depending on where you were in Toronto, residents saw between 10 and 112 millimetres of accumulation.
- Toronto Fire responded to nearly 1,500 calls for service
- About 6,000 Toronto Hydro customers remain without power
- The Bayview Extension remains closed between Pottery Road and River Street
Follow along for live updates.
‘I thought my windows were going to break’
Residents of a North York neighbourhood are still waiting for the city to clear the several downed trees along their street following Wednesday’s storm.
Speaking to CP24 on Thursday, they recounted what transpired.
Alex Gropper was inside his home when the storm arrived.
“I do remember as a kid having had hail and so on, but I’ve never seen it like that. And I’ve been living in this city since 1953,” Gropper said.
“I thought my windows were going to break. The hail was that strong. It was great. Usually, Toronto gets spared, but this time I guess our luck broke.”
He noted that his son, who lives in the area of Wilson Avenue and Bathurst Street, had his basement flooded.
“This looks pretty bad,” he said, pointing at the fallen trees, one of which is resting on top of a car.
Adam Dulberg said he saw a tree “snapped like a twig.”
He shared that the storm was so bad that, at one point, he couldn’t see anything out the window.
“It was kind of crazy. It came fast. Power went out. Power came back on, and it was over,” Dulberg said.
Another resident, Sylvia Simone, echoed what Dulberg said: “Never seen anything like it.”
The storm toppled trees, which downed the fence in her backyard.
Simone shared that she had to drive on the sidewalk to get to her driveway due to the trees blocking the road.
She called 311, who told her that it could take three days before crews could come.
“It’s pretty bad,” she said.
Bryann Aguilar, CP24.com journalist, and Beatrice Vaisman, CP24 reporter
Tornado confirmed near Kitchener
Environment Canada says a tornado was confirmed on radar northwest of Kitchener, Ont. Around 5:30 p.m.
The federal agency says the Northern Tornadoes Project will be surveying the damage to determine the tornado rating.
Bryann Aguilar, CP24.com journalist
Wednesday’s storm by the numbers
Environment Canada has released new preliminary information about Wednesday’s storm. Here’s a by-the-numbers look at the hail, rain, and wind that the GTA encountered.
RAINFALL (in millimetres)
- North York – 118.1
- Scarborough – 105.9
- Vaughan- 133.0
- Thornhill – 93.2
- Markham - 69.9
- Richmond Hill - 69.4
- Mississauga - 62.5
- Oakville - 56.4
HAIL (in centimetres)
- North York – 2.5 to 6.5
WIND (in km/h)
- Toronto Lester B. Pearson Intl. Airport - 83
- Toronto Island Airport - 76
Environment Canada noted that its radar estimated winds of more than 130 km/h, so the numbers “may not make these reports representative.”
Bryann Aguilar, CP24.com journalist
Some of the worst floods to hit Toronto in recent years
Punishing storms swept through much of southern Ontario on Wednesday evening, leaving thousands without power, damaging buildings and flooding roads.
Toronto was among the hard-hit areas, with officials noting there was rainfall of more than 100 millimetres in parts of the city.
Here’s a list of some of the other storms of note from recent years that led to flooding and other damage in the Toronto area.
The Canadian Press
Contact insurer ‘as soon as possible’
In the aftermath of the storm, the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) is advising homeowners who sustained damage to their property to contact their insurance provider “as soon as possible” to start a claim.
IBC says that, as soon as it is safe to do so, homeowners should access and document any damage, including taking photos. If possible, assembling proof of purchases and receipts can be useful in processing a claim.
Homeowners are encouraged to keep any damaged items, so long as they don’t’ pose a health hazard, such as wet or mold damaged items. Any discarded items should be recorded and photographed before they are disposed of.
The IBC notes that insurance coverage will differ from homeowner to homeowner. For example, water damage due to sewer backup is only covered if you have purchased specific, optional sewer backup coverage. As well, overland flood damage, which occurs when bodies of waters such as rivers overflow onto dry land, is also optional.
Phil Tsekouras, CTV News Toronto journalist
Precipitation tallies across the GTA
According to the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network (CoCoRaHS), a network of volunteer weather observers that log precipitation in their neighbourhoods, Toronto’s east end saw 54.4 millimetres of rainfall as of Thursday morning.
Etobicoke saw 33.5 millimetres of precipitation by 7 a.m. Thursday. Mississauga logged 62.5 millimetres of rainfall, while Bolton, Ont., saw 92.5 millimetres.
- Alex Arsenych, CTVNewsToronto.ca journalist
Province working with cities on cleanup
Premier Doug Ford said in a social media post on Thursday that the province is working closely with all impacted municipalities in the wake of Wednesday’s storm, while they assess damages and start cleanup.
“We stand ready to help wherever is needed,” Ford wrote.
- Alex Arsenych, CTVNewsToronto.ca journalist
‘Full service today’ on TTC
Due to the massive preparations ahead of Wednesday’s walloping thunderstorm, TTC’s CEO Mandeep Lali said service on Thursday has been largely unaffected. Lali credited all staff across the TTC for their efforts, from dispatchers to streetcar operators to janitorial staff.
“They ensured that the service we delivered, and we delivered well, a very good service, prior to this storm, during this storm and after this storm,” Lali told reporters on Thursday morning. “A testament to that is we have full service today.”
Lali said there were some “pinch points” seen along a few areas of their transit network, pointing to Union and St. Patrick stations. The TTC’s website was also temporarily downed as a result of power outages, though Lali says they were able to issue service alerts expediently.
- Alex Arsenych, CTVNewsToronto.ca journalist
Evergreen Brick Works closed
The historic brick factory located on Bayview Avenue, adjacent to the Don Valley Parkway, announced its closure on Thursday morning online. It says it’s closing as a direct result of the storm and flooding.
“Site access is restricted (no entry from Bayview) while we focus on cleanup and recovery,” Evergreen Brick Works said in a Facebook post.
All events and activities are cancelled for the day, and the Picnic Café is also closed.
It is unclear at this time when it will reopen.
- Alex Arsenych, CTVNewsToronto.ca journalist
Toronto Hydro has restored power to 90 per cent of customers
Dan Smart, of Toronto Hydro, said crews have been able to restore power to about 90 per cent of customers, with roughly 6,000 remaining without power.
“That’s a result of our crews and system operators working 24/7 through the night,” he said at city hall on Thursday morning.
“We’ve made significant progress and public safety remains our top priority.
- Codi Wilson, Web Journalist, CP24.com
Toronto Fire sees highest number of calls since ice storm
Toronto Fire Chief Jim Jessop said crews responded to nearly 1,500 calls over a 24-hour period, noting that it was the second-highest call volume the service has seen in a single day after the ice storm in 2013.
He said crews, along with police and paramedics, responded to calls ranging from structure fires, high-angle rescues from collapsed scaffolding, elevator entrapments, water rescues, and rescues involving partial building collapses.
“At one point on our app, we had over 400 active 911 calls,” Jessop said.
“The very fact that we have not have any reported major, significant injuries or fatalities shows that the system worked.”
- Codi Wilson, Web Journalist, CP24.com
Beaches may be impacted this weekend
City Manager Paul Johnson noted that as a result of having to go on bypass for some water treatment and sewage treatment plants, some beaches may be impacted this weekend. He urged people to check the city’s website for updates.
Outdoor pools are “in recovery mode” and some may not open today due to excessive debris.
The CNE is open as usual on Thursday, he added.
It will take the city a few days to get to all of the fallen trees, Johnson said.
- Codi Wilson, Web Journalist, CP24.com
‘100-year storm’
Johnson called Wednesday’s storm “unique” to Toronto.
“The reality is weather is never the same twice. This was a storm that brought a large amount of rain across the city of Toronto,” he said.
“It is a bit unique in that. I’ve talked to some of our folks, particularly in Toronto Water, and we’ve not seen an event like this that’s brought this amount of water across the city of Toronto. It has been isolated.”
He said the amount of rain that fell, up to 110 millimetres in some areas, qualifies as what they would call a “100-year storm.”
“Wide areas of the city received large amounts of rain,” he added.
- Codi Wilson, Web Journalist, CP24.com
‘We were prepared’
Speaking to reporters on Thursday morning, Mayor Olivia Chow provided an update on the city’s storm response.
“The moment the storm arrived, our crews were ready to go,” she said, noting that the emergency operations centre was activated earlier in the day.
“They rescued people from flooded roads, secured equipment, and prevented further damage,” she said.
Hydro crews have now restored power to about 90 per cent of customers who experienced outages on Wednesday, Chow added, and TTC operators did their best to move customers safely during “difficult circumstances.”
“The storm has passed and I want to assure the people of people that we were prepared,” she said at city hall.
“We will keep working until every road is clear and every resident has power back.”
- Codi Wilson, Web Journalist, CP24.com
NB Don Valley Parkway reopens
About an hour after southbound lanes of the DVP reopened, traffic is now moving on the northbound side of the highway between Bloor Street and the Gardiner Expressway.
The eastbound Gardiner Expressway remains closed from York Street to the DVP.
- Codi Wilson, Web Journalist, CP24.com
TRCA cancels flood warning
A flood warning issued by the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) has been cancelled, but what’s known as a “watershed conditions statement” remains in effect.
The agency said although flooding is not expected in the area today, the amount of rain that fell on Wednesday, between 10 and 112 millimetres depending on where you were in the city, has caused water levels in rivers to rise and flow faster than usual.
“Stay safe around water by avoiding rivers, streams, and nearby trails and by keeping children and pets away from fast moving water and slippery banks,” they said in an update Thursday.
- Phil Tsekouras, CTV News Toronto journalist
Rogers Stadium damaged by storm
Photos from Chopper 24 show dramatic images of Rogers Stadium, which appears to have sustained significant damage during Wednesday’s storm.
No shows are scheduled this week at the stadium, located at Downsview Park, but AC/DC is expected to perform on Sept. 16.
- Codi Wilson, Web Journalist, CP24.com
Southbound DVP reopens
The southbound lanes of the Don Valley Parkway have reopened but northbound lanes remain closed between Bloor Street and the Gardiner Expressway.
It is unclear when the northbound lanes will reopen.
- Codi Wilson, Web Journalist, CP24.com
Operations at Pearson airport ‘returning to normal’
Officials at Toronto Pearson International Airport say operations are “returning to normal” following the storm.
“Travellers are encouraged to check their flight status directly with their airline, as some schedules were impacted by yesterday’s storm,” the airport said in a social media post.
Pearson previously said it was deploying undisclosed air traffic management initiatives as the rain started to fall Thursday, which NAV Canada, the nation’s air navigation system, said was causing delays at the airport.
- Phil Tsekouras, CTV News Toronto journalist
City sees more than 1,100 service requests
In an email on Thursday, the City of Toronto said crews continue to clear debris and sediment off of roadways as flood waters begin to recede.
“Closures will remain in place until cleanup operations are complete and the roadways are determined to be safe for reopening,” the email read.
More than 1,100 service requests have been received by the city so far as it continues to assess and respond to hazards across Toronto, “prioritizing safety as well as ensuring key infrastructure such as hydro and roadways continue.”
“Widespread power outages have been reported across the city, impacting several traffic signals. Residents are encouraged to treat these intersections as a four-way stop,” the city noted.
The City’s 10 supervised beaches are expected to reopen at 10 a.m. and outdoor pools may open later than usual today.
Some park washrooms may be closed and drop-in programs at recreation centres may be cancelled today.
All CampTO programs are operating, with activities “adjusted on site where needed.”
- Codi Wilson, Web Journalist, CP24.com
DVP closed ‘indefinitely’ for cleanup
It is unclear when the Don Valley Parkway will reopen between Bayview/ Bloor and the Gardiner Expressway.
“It is a mess on the Don Valley Parkway,” CP24 Traffic Specialist Meital Sperling said on Thursday morning, adding that officials have said the stretch is closed “indefinitely” until cleanup can be completed.
“Getting downtown this morning is going to be quite the struggle.”
- Codi Wilson, Web Journalist, CP24.com
Tropical air mass provided ignition for storm
CP24 Meteorologist Bill Coulter said these types of storms are rare in Toronto.
“Toronto tends to not get a lot of these kind of really powerful storms because often the cold front comes in from the west, interacts with the Niagara Escarpment, that kind of flattens out the cloud a little bit,” he said.
“Then as it expands on the eastern side of the escarpment, it dries out a little bit and then it redevelops on the east side of the GTA and eastward.”
He noted that this storm was different as it came from the north.
“This coming down from the north had no interactions so you had these ripples ahead of the cold front that gave wave after wave of ignition to this tropical air mass,” Coulter said.
“And boy did we pay the price yesterday.”
- Codi Wilson, Web Journalist, CP24.com
Delays on some TTC bus routes
TTC spokesperson Susan Nguyen said it is a busy morning but a “problem-free” commute on the subway, LRT and streetcar routes.
“On the roads, we are dealing with significant delays because of flooding on the roadways there, and this is primarily in the northwest of the city, along Finch, Keele, Sheppard, Wilson, and Dufferin,” she told CP24 on Thursday morning.
- Codi Wilson, Web Journalist, CP24.com
Storm was ‘one for the history books’
Coulter confirmed that 43.3 millimetres of rain fell at Toronto Pearson International Airport on Wednesday, representing more than half a month’s worth of rain in a matter of hours.
“This is the calm after the storm and it is one for the history books for sure,” Coulter said.
He said certain areas of the city likely got “significantly more” than that amount.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if you hear totals, when they put out the summary, of 100 plus,” Coulter said Thursday.
Toronto will be spared from further thunderstorms on Thursday but humid weather is in the forecast.
The city will see a high of 27 C today, feeling like 34 when factoring in the humidity.
- Codi Wilson, Web Journalist, CP24.com
Power outages continue
At the peak of the storm, Toronto Hydro said about 65,000 customers were without power in the city. As of about midnight, the utility said service has been restored to about 40,000 customers, leaving about 25,000 still in the dark.
It in unclear how many still remain without electricity this morning.
- Codi Wilson, Web Journalist, CP24.com
Commuters should leave ‘plenty of extra time’
In a post on social media, the City of Toronto said several roadways will remain closed this morning “until further notice.”
- Codi Wilson, Web Journalist, CP24.com
