Severe storm brings heavy rain, flooding to Ottawa area

Torrential downpours and damaging winds blew through eastern Ontario and west Quebec, causing flash flooding in some areas late Tuesday afternoon.

In Ottawa, puddles were six-inch deep in the parking lot at Carlingwood Mall late Tuesday afternoon.

At the South Keyes Shopping Centre, flooding forced the Loblaws grocery store to close its doors. Crews were pumping water out of the store at about 5 p.m., with hopes of reopening in a few hours.

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The rain also caused problems on some roadways. Ottawa police say some of the underpasses at Highway 417 were flooded with deep water. Some intersections were also flooded, including Island Park and Byng Drives, Carling and Croydon Avenues, and Carling and Clyde Avenues.

Environment Canada predicted 75 to 100 millimetres of rain would fall within two to three hours late Tuesday afternoon. Gusty winds of up to 90 kilometres per hour were also expected.

Forecasters say heavy rain is the main concern. A severe thunderstorm warning remained in effect late Tuesday afternoon for Ottawa, Richmond, Metcalfe, Gatineau, Prescott and Russell, Morrisburg, Long Sault, Cornwall, Lancaster, Winchester, Newington, Maxville, Alexandria, Renfrew, Arnprior and Calabogie.