A ship slowly heads westbound in the Seaway at Mariatown - with new camera!

Summer storms hit Ottawa

A great birthday gift - a new camera

It was the tale of two weather worlds yesterday. If you were north of a line from Kingston to Alexandria, Ontario, you had heavy afternoon thunderstorms. South of that line including Kemptville it was a pleasant, warm and humid 27C day. Ottawa and the valley were hit with heavy storms that cut power dropped hail and even set a home on fire from a lightning strike in Ottawa south. The ensuing fire destroyed the home and injured three firefighters.

South of the line in the Seaway it was a spectacular day. I was fortunate enough to spend the afternoon with my new Canon snapping photos. I was looking for thunderstorms but settled on ships and scenery. It was a great birthday gift and an fun way to spend a relaxing fathers day. (my daughter was visiting her papa).

Now it is back to reality on this Monday, and more showers and storms. Today will be the last in the series of muggy days reaching 25C with thunderstorms this afternoon. Some storms will be severe again with hail and gusty winds. The balance of the week will be showery and cool as we come under the influence of an upper level low that slowly moves across the region. It is the same storm that produced the heavy rains on the prairies and the devastating Midwest US floods. Don't look for the same amount of rain here.