Cleanup underway in Aurora following storm that toppled trees, power lines

A storm left a trail of damage after sweeping through Aurora, knocking down trees and power lines, leaving several roads closed.

Cleanup is underway in Aurora after a storm toppled trees and knocked down power lines on Friday afternoon, damaging some homes and blocking roadways.

On Meadwood Drive, large trees were uprooted, falling down on the driveway of a neighbouring home and on the road.

Meanwhile, on Heathwood Heights Drive, the storm felled several trees, including some that landed on several roofs.

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York Regional Police said they received multiple calls following a “significant weather event.”

Videos shared with CP24 show vehicles dodge a large tree on Bathurst Street, south of Mulock Drive. The tree also toppled down utility lines.

Environment Canada issued a severe thunderstorm watch for Toronto, York Region and other parts of the Greater Toronto Area as “conditions are favourable for the development of severe thunderstorms.”

The thunderstorms were capable of producing wind gusts of up to 90 km/h, nickel-sized hail and heavy rain with amounts possibly exceeding 30 millimetres.

“Local utility outages are possible. There is a risk of injury,” Environment Canada said.

Heat warning remains in effect

Meanwhile, the GTA continues to bake under the “long-duration heat event.” By 3 p.m., the city reached a high of 34.7 C with a humidex of 44.

Environment Canada says hot conditions are expected to last until Saturday.

For anyone going to outdoor watch parties to see Canada’s Round of 16 match against Morocco, it will be a mix of sun and cloud on Saturday with 40 per cent chance of showers and a high of 31 C.

There will be some relief on Sunday with a high of 26 C, cloudy conditions and a 30 per cent chance of showers.

1st heat event is just opening act: climatologist

Environment Canada climatologist Dave Phillips told CP24 on Friday that he hadn’t seen temperatures as high as this week “in a long time.”

Despite the sweltering conditions, Phillips said the centre of the “heat dome” is actually in the United States.

After Saturday, Phillips said Toronto will get an “intermission” for a few days as the heat dome moves away.

“If you survive this one, then you probably will be all right, because it’s the first one that often gives us the health issues, and the people are just not used to it,” Phillips said.

“We’ve kind of learned how to deal with it, and so if you survived the first one, you’ll be all right for the second one.”

Phillips warned that the heat will return late next week.

“We’re just seeing the beginning, the opening act to what is going to be a warm humid summer,” Phillips said, noting that the “dog days of summer,” which is when Toronto normally gets its warmest temperatures, is coming up in about two weeks.