Storms cause significant damage across eastern Ontario; tornado suspected
Crews from Environment and Climate Change Canada and Western University’s Northern Tornadoes Project are investigating to determine whether tornadoes are responsible for damage across eastern Ontario following storms on Sunday.
A powerful thunderstorm moved across the province Sunday evening. According to Environment Canada, homes and trees were damaged in areas that include Havelock, Marmora, Madoc and Tweed, which are east of Peterborough and north of Belleville. Part of Highway 7 in Tweed was blocked because of a downed tree. North of Tweed, in the community of Actinolite, roofs were ripped off of homes.
The municipality of Tweed has declared a state of emergency. A reception centre is open at the Tweed Library at 230 Metcalf St., with bottled water. Power is available.
"If you have been affected by the storm, please register at the reception centre. If you have questions, please call the municipal office at 613-478-2535," the municipality said.
Environment Canada said injuries were reported in the community of Rockdale, Ont., about 60 km north of Belleville.
Tornado warnings were issued for parts of the region Sunday night.
OPP Acting Sgt. Erin Cranton tells CTV Morning Live roads were still blocked Monday morning by downed trees and wires.
“Officers were responding to numerous calls for service from about 8:30 until 4 in the morning,” she said. “Lots of trees were reported down on roadways, especially on Highway 7 between Highway 62 and Highway 37. Also, hydro lines were down, so a lot of vehicles were halted in the wake of that.”
Cranton said OPP is aware of one report of non-life threatening injuries to someone who was driving on Highway 7 at the time of the storm. A downed hydro line hit one OPP officer’s vehicle, breaking the windshield and mirror. The officer was unharmed, Cranton said.
Storm damage around the town of Actinolite, Ont. is seen from the CTV News Toronto helicopter.
Deputy mayor of Madoc Township Larry Rollins told Newstalk 580 CFRA's "Ottawa Now with Kristy Cameron" that this is the second devastating storm in the region this year.
"We had a major storm in May that caused all kinds of tree damage, as it did in Ottawa," he said, referring to the May 21 derecho storm that caused widespread damage across Ontario and several deaths.
Rollins said people need to be ready for more events like this.
"People have got to realize climate change is real. This is no joke, this is for real and people better get used to it because until we do something different, we’re going to have a problem."
He says road and fire crews are working to remove downed trees from roads to help ensure that ambulances can reach everyone.
"Most of our volunteer firemen were out last night after the storm hit and worked through the night. People are still working today trying to open all of our roads," Rollins said. "We hope that by this evening, we will have all our roads open."
Hydro One said Monday afternoon that it had restored power to more than 39,000 customers since Sunday night, but some people would remain without power for another night.
CTV's Nate Vandermeer says he recorded nearly 90 mm of rain in the Brockville area on Sunday.
Ottawa was drenched with more than 22 mm of rain, and lightning is getting the blame for damage to the O-Train, which kept trains offline for the morning commute.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
Fewer medical students going into family medicine contributing to doctor shortage
As some family doctors are retiring and others are moving away from family medicine, there are fewer medical students to take their place.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Bodies found by U.S. authorities searching for missing B.C. kayakers
United States authorities who have been searching for a pair of missing kayakers from British Columbia since the weekend have recovered two bodies in the nearby San Juan Islands of Washington state.
'It's discriminatory': Individuals refused entry to Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
Individuals being barred from entering Ontario’s legislature while wearing a keffiyeh say the garment is part of their cultural identity— and the only ones making it political are the politicians banning it.
Competition bureau finds 'substantial' anti-competitive effects with proposed Bunge-Viterra merger
The proposed merger of agricultural giants Viterra and Bunge is raising competition concerns from the federal government.
Douglas DC-4 plane with 2 people on board crashes into river outside Fairbanks, Alaska
A Douglas C-54 Skymaster airplane crashed into the Tanana River near Fairbanks on Tuesday, Alaska State Troopers said.