Environment Canada downgrades weather alert about damaging winds up to 110km/h

A Canadian flag flaps in the wind in Barrie, Ont. on Wednesday, March 8, 2017. (Adam Ward/ CTV Barrie)

A spring storm that meteorologists said was brewing severe thunderstorms on Tuesday as a cold front reaches the region, bringing with it strong winds up to 110 kilometres per hour, has since been downgraded.

Residents across the region woke Tuesday to warm temperatures and sunny skies, but as the day progressed and the winds kicked up, the conditions turned favourable for some wicked weather.

Early in the day, Environment Canada issued a weather alert for Central Ontario, noting the potential for “dangerous thunderstorms that may be capable of producing damaging wind gusts and large hail” Tuesday afternoon and into the evening.

The national weather agency warned about a risk of a tornado, and the potential for large hail, but by late afternoon, the agency swapped out its alert for a special weather statement as conditions shifted, noting wind gusts up to 80 km/h were more likely for the area. Still, there is the chance of power outages and loose objects being tossed by the strong southwesterly winds.

The newly issued weather statement applies to central Ontario, while much of the south western portion of the province remains under a thunderstorm warning with the possibility of large hail and hazardous wind gusts.

The late April weather statement comes on the heels of last month’s ice storm, which wreaked havoc; downing power lines, uprooting trees, snapping large branches and damaging properties across Central Ontario. Many communities are still undergoing cleanup efforts.