Hydro One crews at the Kemptville Mall this morning

Storms sweep region

A series of severe thunderstorms swept the region yesterday mainly north and west of Kemptville. The hardest hit areas were south of Arnprior towards Calabogie and south into Smiths Falls. Another band of storms swept across Ottawa and Gatineau. Hail and flooding was reported along with wind damage. Thousands of customers remain without power this morning. Hydro One crews were staging in the Kemptville Mall parking lot this morning with at least two dozen trucks on hand. Power is expected to be restored to everyone by the end of the day baring any new storms.

The threat is very real for more severe weather. Dense fog this morning is an indication of just how moist and unstable the air mass is. As the sun begins to warm that moist air - storms will develop again by late in the day. Kemptville had another 5.6mm of rain yesterday to bring our soggy monthly total to 132mm closing in on double the normal, which we should reach by months end. Further south in St. Lawrence County, NY the storm prompted a flood advisory as more than 75mm rain fell just yesterday afternoon, causing water to pond and wash over roads.

A break between stroms in Kemptville yesterday