Severe thunderstorms expected for Kingston and area
Update: As of 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jul. 20, 2021, Environment Canada has issued a Severe Storm Warning for the Kingston area. The Warning is in effect for the Kingston, Frontenac Islands, Odessa, Napanee, Consecon, Picton, and the Sandbanks Park areas.
The warning advises of high winds up to 90 km/h, and up to nickle-sized hail. Approximately 15 to 25 mm of rain is expected.
“This line of severe thunderstorms is located from Bewdley to Bobs Lake, moving east at 80 km/h,” the warning reads. “Strong wind gusts can toss loose objects, damage weak buildings, break branches off trees and overturn large vehicles. Locally heavy rain is also possible. Remember, severe thunderstorms can produce tornadoes.”
Areas expected to be impacted include: Belleville, Trenton, Stirling, Napanee, Brighton, Presqu’ile Provincial Park, Rednersville, Deseronto, Tamworth, Odessa, Sydenham and Frontenac Provincial Park, according to the national weather agency.
The storms are expected to reach Kingston no later than 4:30 p.m.
Original article:
Environment Canada has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for the areas north of Kingston, while a Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect for the Kingston area.
At 2:54 p.m. on Tuesday, Jul. 20, 2021, the national weather agency declared a Severe Thunderstorm warning for the Stirling, Tweed, and South Frontenac regions.
“Environment Canada meteorologists are tracking a line of severe thunderstorms capable of producing very strong wind gusts and up to nickel size hail,” the warning reads. “This line of severe thunderstorms is located from Round Lake to Big Gull Lake, moving east at 55 km/h.”
Environment Canada advises that wind gusts could reach as high as 90 km/h. Locations that are likely to be impacted include: Quackenbush Provincial Park, Marmora, Bannockburn, Madoc, Tweed, Kaladar, Tamworth and Puzzle Lake Provincial Park.
“Strong wind gusts can toss loose objects, damage weak buildings, break branches off trees and overturn large vehicles. Remember, severe thunderstorms can produce tornadoes,” Environment Canada said. “Severe thunderstorm warnings are issued when imminent or occurring thunderstorms are likely to produce or are producing one or more of the following: large hail, damaging winds, torrential rainfall.”
Meanwhile, the Severe Thunderstorm Watch currently in effect for the Kingston, Odessa, Frontenac Islands, Napanee, Consecon, Picton, and Sandbanks Park areas advises that conditions are favourable for the development of dangerous thunderstorms that may be capable of producing damaging wind gusts and large hail. It advises that wind gusts could reach up to 110 km/h with ping pong ball sized hail and the possibility of tornado activity.
“A line of thunderstorms has developed near Georgian Bay and is tracking east towards the area. This line of severe thunderstorms is expected to move over Eastern Ontario this afternoon and evening with very strong winds and hail,” Environment Canada said in the messaging, noting that the storms are expected in the late afternoon and into the night.
“Large hail can damage property and cause injury. Very strong wind gusts can damage buildings, down trees and blow large vehicles off the road. Locally heavy rain is also possible. Remember, severe thunderstorms can produce tornadoes. Lightning kills and injures Canadians every year. Remember, when thunder roars, go indoors!”
At the same time, the Special Air Quality Statement issued by Environment Canada on Monday, Jul. 19, 2021 remains in effect. This is due to the smoke from the active forest fires in northwestern Ontario.
A Severe Thunderstorm Warning is expected to be issued for Kingston in the coming hour. Kingstonist will update this article if/when more information becomes available.