Seven of nine students taken to hospital after being tossed into Lake Ontario by two-metre waves that were whipped up by 130-km/h winds on Hamilton's waterfront Thursday morning have been released, according to the Hamilton Wentworth District School Board.
It's one of several incidents that officials in southern Ontario are dealing with as high winds wreak havoc in the region.
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Hamilton police said a boat carrying high school rowers capsized in the rough water, while an eight-person boat snapped in half under the strain of the waves, sending about a dozen students and at least two coaches into the frigid water in Harbour Bay.
Some got out on their own, but six people were rescued from the water by Hamilton and Halton police marine units, who conducted a search of the area and accounted for everyone using infrared technology and other equipment, Hamilton police Sgt. Barry Mungar told CP24.
Those who were transported to McMaster Hospital are being treated for mild hypothermia after spending 15 to 20 minutes in the cold water, Mungar said.
The two students still at the hospital are in stable condition and are being monitored. They are expected to go home sometime later today, according to school board sources.
Mungar said the turbulent storm caught the rowing teams by surprised when it struck at about 7:20 a.m., but police will follow up and find out why they were allowed to venture on to the lake.
Students and coaches from five Hamilton-area high schools were on the lake at the time.
Officers set up a command post, where parents and school officials gathered.
Mungar said a few boats were pushed onto the shore and grounded, while at least five unmanned boats remain adrift.
Police are urging people to stay off the water until the weather and water conditions improve.
Anyone who spots the unmanned boats is asked to call Hamilton police with their whereabouts at 905-546-4925.
Burlington Skyway closed
Meanwhile, widespread damage has been reported as wind warnings have expired in several regions on the shores of Lake Ontario, including the Greater Toronto Area.
Strong, gusty winds of 50 to 80 km/h are likely Thursday, but some areas will be whipped by winds of more than 100 km/h.
For safety reasons, officials closed the Burlington Skyway, where wind gusts of 107 km/h were reported, for several hours, but it has since reopened.
Ontario Provincial Police are investigating at least two tractor-trailer rollovers on the QEW that may have been caused by the wind.
In Toronto, there are reports of downed power lines and large trees, and traffic light outages.
Part of Bloor Street West was closed near Dufferin Avenue after part of a brick wall collapsed at a building at 1051 Bloor St. W., sending bricks onto the street below. No injuries were reported.
A stretch of Dundas Street was closed near St. Clarens after pieces of a roof blew off a church.
An unmanned crane was reportedly being spun in circles by the wind at a construction site at Bay Street and Yorkville Avenue shortly before 10 a.m.
The TDSB says several schools are without power, and Whitney Public School is closed due to a water pump issue.
All the children are safe, the school board says.
Toronto Hydro says about 2,000 customers are without power, mostly in North York and Scarborough neighbourhoods. Additional crews are being brought in to restore electricity.
In addition to violent winds, Environment Canada is forecasting more rain Thursday.
Possible tornado damage probed
Meanwhile, the clean-up continues after violent storms cut through the province Wednesday, bringing hail, heavy rain and reports of tornadoes.
Environment Canada is investigating reports of twisters near Kitchener and Fergus, where strong winds caused damage to buildings and toppled trees.
In Waterloo, an 11-year-old girl suffered a broken leg when she was pinned under a fallen oak tree.
In Toronto, the St. Clair and Oakwood area saw some high winds that downed trees or large branches on to vehicles.
At least one home had a tree fall on its roof.
Despite the damage, no injuries were reported in the city.
The storms were a result of a low-pressure system that rolled into southern Ontario from the U.S. A severe thunderstorm warning was issued for much of the area.
At one point, a tornado warning was in effect in the Ottawa area.
