Severe thunderstorms that have caused flooding and power outages around the city Monday will likely exceed 100 mm of total rainfall before it tapers off later this evening, according to Environment Canada.
Meteorologists
from Environment Canada are tracking a slow-moving cluster of thunderstorms
capable of producing limited flash flooding.
The amount
of rainfall has beaten the previous same-day rainfall record of 29.2 mm in 2008
and overcome the roughly 70 mm monthly average for July.
The
thunderstorms are over the Mississauga and Brampton regions and moving slowly
eastward toward Markham, Richmond Hill and Toronto.
They added
that crews are out and evaluating the damage.
Powerstream said
all power has been restored for Markham, Richmond Hill and parts of Vaughan
after a loss of supply from Hydro One’s transformer station in Buttonville.
They said that power was restored shortly after 10 p.m.
Due to
severe flooding there is no TTC service at Downsview to St. Clair West, St.
Andrew to Bloor, Lawrence to Finch, Jane to Kipling, and the Sheppard Line.
The Toronto
Region Conservation Authority also warned that the banks of the Don River were
at risk of collapse in the area of Hoggs Hollow in the area of Yonge St. and
York Mills.
The TTC has
stopped all subways due to signal and power issues throughout the city. Parts
of Union Station have been sandbagged in order to stem the flow of water.
TTC Chair
Karen Stintz said they have asked Hydro One to consider TTC a priority in
regards to restoring power. She said it is hard to determine how many people
are trapped underground on the subway system.
“This is a
historic night of Toronto weather,” Stintz said.
Metrolinx
said buses and trains have been affected due to severe rain throughout Greater
Toronto and Hamilton area.
A portion of
the track west of Long Branch is completely under water, which is making it
difficult to operate GO trains along the Lakeshore West line.
A GO train
is also partially submerged on the Richmond Hill line that left Union around
rush hour. The murky brown water, which spilled through the bottom floor of the
train and left roughly 1000 passengers stuck for more than three hours.
Toronto
police’s Marine Unit has arrived on scene and they are evacuating passengers,
starting with those who have medical issues. Roughly half of the people have
been rescued from the train.
All flights
at Billy Bishop Airport have now been suspended due to the storm, according to
Pamela McDonald, spokeswoman for the Toronto Port Authority.
The ferry
service has been suspended for passengers travelling to the airport, but
arriving passengers are being transported.
Dozens of
flights have also been delayed at Pearson.
The Don
Valley Parkway is closed northbound and southbound from the Gardiner to Bayview
and Bloor due to flooding.
Toronto
police said significant rainfall has caused the banks of the Don River to
overflow. They are urging people to stay at home if they can.
Toronto
police and Toronto Fire have said there have been no injuries due to the storm.
Toronto Fire also said that they received around 300 stacked calls in regards
to the rain.
Toronto EMS
are recommending people do not travel if they can as cars are creating
obstacles for paramedics. They also said they have received a large number of
people stuck in elevators.
The Toronto
Region Conservation Authority also warned that the banks of the Don River were
at risk of collapse in the area of Hoggs Hollow in the area of Yonge St. and
York Mills.
Yorkdale and
Sherway Gardens are both closed due to power failures.
Toronto’s
Fringe Festival has also cancelled their performances tonight. They tweeted
that the “priority is artist, staff and audience safety.”
Earlier Monday
afternoon, Environment Canada issued two special weather statements — one for
thunderstorms over southern Ontario and the other for local heavy downpours.
Environment
Canada also recommends drivers avoid going through water on roads as even
shallow fast moving water can sweep a vehicle away.
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