Environment Canada issued a brief tornado warning for Ottawa as a severe thunderstorm moved the city’s west end. An alert issued a 5:25 p.m. said meteorologists were tracking a tornado possibly moving east over Fitzroy Harbour. The alert was called off less than 10 minutes later. It’s unclear if a tornado touched down. Heavy rain was seen in downtown Ottawa as the storm moved through the city. There were no immediate signs of damage, though localized flooding and hail was reported. A section of Highway 417 near the Bayshore Shopping Centre was flooded, through traffic was seen moving normally at slowed down speeds. A yellow watch – severe thunderstorm remains in effect as of 7:45 p.m. Monday. “Thunderstorms will continue to affect the area into this evening. Some storms could become severe with strong winds, large hail and heavy rain. Conditions may become favourable for some storms to produce tornadoes, but confidence in any tornado threat is low,” Environment Canada says. Environment Canada says hazards include damaging winds between 90 to 110 km/h, loonie to ping pong ball size hail, rain amounts of up to 50 mm and a risk of a tornado. Severe thunderstorm warnings are issued when imminent or occurring thunderstorms are expected to produce damaging hail, wind or rain. A tornado warning issued earlier this afternoon for the Pembroke and Beachburg areas has since been lifted. Environment Canada says to take cover if threatening weather approaches.
