Lines of Severe Thunderstorms hit area


Severe Thunderstorms are moving through Eastern Ontario tonight. Warnings and Watches have been posted for all areas. It was a very muggy day in the province with temperatures in the low thirties and very humid. A cold front is slicing into the muggy air with the result being several waves of storms. I was in west end Ottawa tonight experiencing one of the storms. It was fairly tame with the exception of the lightning, which was amazing. Several cells on radar in the upper Ottawa Valley are approaching severe limits - so more weather is on the way tonight.

Dean crossing the coast as a Cat 5 yesterday

Dean weakens to Tropical Storm

The remains of Hurricane Dean will ring itself out over the mountains of central Mexico tonight which as much as 20 inches of rain. The rain will produce life threatening mudslides and flooding in the area. The Storm moved onshore for the final time today near Veracruz, Mexico. Meanwhile the Yucatan is recovering and slowly cleaning up from yesterday's brush with the Category 5 storm. Remarkably no deaths were reported so far in Mexico. Jamaica's south coast is cleaning up also with total destruction is some cases. 13 deaths occurred there and also in the Lesser Antilles.

The storm behaved well and was exceptionally forecast by the National Hurricane Center. That, and a quick response by authorities along the track of Dean, prevented a far greater catastrophe. It also helped that the storm skirted islands and made landfall in an area of the Yucatan with little population. Sadly it still managed to destroy many home in and just north of Chetumel, Mexico.

Dean getting stronger

Hurricane Dean is just shy of Category 5 status at this hour. The storm is located about 330 miles east of Belize City in the western Caribbean Sea heading slightly due north of west. The storm is expected to make landfall overnight tonight on the Yucatan south of Cozumel. The storm is then expected to cross the peninsula and emerge into the Gulf of Mexico before approaching Tampico on the Gulf Coast of Mexico Wednesday- possibly as a Category three hurricane. What all this means is that massive evacuations were expected along both coastlines as Dean approaches. Thousands of tourists were boarding planes away from the Yucatan yesterday and today.

It appears that the damage was extensive along the south coast of Jamaica but not as bad as feared. Ten deaths have been blamed on the storm so far. Residents in extreme south Texas near Brownsville were being asked to leave the low lying coastal areas prior to landfall in Mexico as a precaution.

Dean spares Jamaica

Serious damage - but it could have been worse

Hurricane Dean wobbled south of Jamaica yesterday producing heavy rain, mudslides and 115mph winds. It could have been far worse. The Cat 4 storm is moving west of the Island nation this morning and is about 415 miles from the Belize coast. The next target will be that country and the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico. The area will be hammered by the storm which we expect will be a Category 5 by then, producing 155mph winds and gusts to 185. The damage could be catastrophic in places. The area has just finished rebuilding from Wilma in 2005.

I apologize for the problems providing updates on this blog. My home computer is out and I am working on it. In the meantime the Hurricane City link on the left has all the latest information and links 0n the storm.

• The remains of Tropical Storm Erin meantime rung itself out over Oklahoma yesterday morning with 9 inches of rain in just a few hoursin and around King Fisher County. The result was severe flash flooding. At least 7 deaths were blamed on the storm. Numerous water rescues were carried out all day, reminiscent of Katrina in 2005. The storm is producing rain across Missouri, Kentucky and Illinois today.

Next update will be around 5pm today....

Dean a Cat 2 storm

pounding Lesser Antilles

Hurricane Dean is pounding Martinique and neighboring islands this morning with fierce winds and rain. Winds have been reported up to 87mph overnight. The storm is producing 5-10 inches of rain and waves and storm surge of up to 10 feet in places. It is expected to move away from the islands later today. Next in the storms path will be Jamaica, Cuba and the Cayman Islands. The storm is riding the southern edge of the Bermuda high that has been baking the US southeast. That is good news for that area but very bad news for south Texas. Projections have the storm heading for coastal Texas by the middle part of next week as a major hurricane.

Dean becomes Hurricane
Severe Thunderstorms in Ontario


Several lines of severe thunderstorms are passing across the St. Lawrence Valley and Eastern Ontario this afternoon. The air is very unstable and a weak cold front is slicing through it. Temperatures rose rapidly behind a warm front this morning up to around 29C.The storms should taper off by the supper hour.Warnings and Watches are in effect for all of eastern Ontario and Upstate New York.

Hurricane Dean continues to strengthen as it heads rapidly westward through the Atlantic and Caribbean. The storm is expected to brush the Lesser Antilles and Windward Islands tomorrow before taking aim at the Yucatan, Cozumel and Cancun. The storm is forecast to become a major Category 4 Hurricane by Sunday. All interests in the Gulf and Coastal Mexico should pay close attention to this potentially dangerous storm.

Meanwhile Tropical Storm Erin moved inland over south Texas northeast of Corpus Christie this morning with heavy rain, flooding and isolated tornadoes. Full details can be found at this link: http://www.kristv.com/Global/story.asp?S=6942390

Tropical Storm Erin approaching the Texas Gulf Coast

Dean continues west

Erin forms in Gulf of Mexico

The tropics continue active today as Tropical Storms Dean and Erin have developed. Dean is expected to continue west while intensifying and could become the first Atlantic hurricane of the 2007 season. The storm is expected to approach the Dominican Republic and Haiti by weeks end, potentially as a major hurricane.

In the meantime Tropical Storm Erin formed only hours ago in the Gulf of Mexico about 250 miles east of Brownsville. Tropical Storm Warnings have been raised for the lower Texas Coast south of Freeport into northern Mexico. The biggest threat from Erin will be torrential tropical rains in excess of 5 inches and up to 8 inches in places. The official update can be found at this link: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCPAT5+shtml/151536.shtml

The expected path of Tropical Storm Dean

Hurricane Flossie moving south of the big island of Hawaii today

The Tropics heat up

Hurricane Flossie is skirting the big island of Hawaii in the Pacific Ocean today. Towering waves of up to 25 feet are expected to cause some flooding along the south coast of the island. Also heavy rains may produce flash flooding and mudslides. Winds are expected in the 40-60mph range over extreme southern areas.

Meanwhile in the Atlantic midway between the African coast and the US Virgin Islands, we find Tropical Storm Dean. Forecasters are expecting Dean to continue moving towards the west northwest along the southern edge of the Bermuda high. By Friday the storm should be approaching the far eastern Caribbean Islands as a hurricane. All interest in the US southeast should monitor this storm as it looks to be the first of the season to threaten the area. Keep in mind we are over a week away from this happening if at all.

A car sits under a washed out section of road near Placentia Bay.

Tropical Strom Chantal floods Newfoundland
High heat and humidity in Ontario/ Quebec

Southeast Newfoundland received between 100-150mm of rain in as little as six hours yesterday morning causing serious flooding in the southeast part of the province. Many roads were washed out and homes flooded. Several motorists narrowly escaped death when there cars were washed into culverts. Sections of the Trans Canada Highway were washed out near Placentia Bay. Roads in St. John's were flooded as well. Tropical Storm Chantal, the third of the season, brushed the southeast part of the province late Tuesday night. The storm formed over the the open Atlantic east of North Carolina and raced northeast.

• High heat and humidity warnings continue in Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto today. Heat emergencies have been declared and cooling shelters opened. Record highs can be expected today with the mercury soaring into the mid 30's over many areas. Humidex values will push over 40C. Drink plenty of water and limit outdoor activities, unless it is a beer by the water!

Tropical Depression Three
off East Coast

• Blazing Heat continues - spreads east

• A friend turns 200,000

• Just a few quick notes this wonderful July morning. The month is almost over. What started as a rainy and unseasonably cool month will end very hot for most of the country. This will be Ontario's hottest week of the year to date. High temperatures will be over 30C right into the weekend. Temps in the west have been close to 40C in Saskatchewan once again. A humidex reading of 53C was recorded in that province on the weekend, the warmest ever!

• This weekend the NASCAR Busch cars are in Montreal. I will be there, needless to say. The weather sunny and warm, awesome, thank you weather gods!

• The third tropical depression of the 2007 Atlantic Hurricane season has formed about 310 miles southeast of Massachusetts. As you can see on the map above the storm is expected to become Tropical Storm Chantal. it is forecast to skirt the Avalon off Newfoundland with gusty winds and heavy rain. The tropics are heating up, with forecasters watching several other waves developing. I imagine our quiet season to date is about to come to an end. Please stay away from the Outer Banks!

• An important friend of mine turned 200,000, kilometres that is, at exit 619 on the 401 on Thursday. My Saturn SL1, while not the 69 Charger I have always dreamed of, has taken me everywhere. It has not only taken me to and from the ones I love but has also proved a valuable friend in storm chasing, and it has the hail dents to prove it. Thank you Little Limo! My beautiful daughter below with the car in the background (red) in line for the Glenora fery, on our latest adventure to Sandbanks!

Close to 90mm of rain fell in Kemptville

Blazing Heat in Saskatchewan

Heavy Rain in Ontario

The rain of last week created havoc and flooding across parts of Eastern Ontario. Radar estimates and observations showed that as much as 150mm of rain fell in less than 24 hours, smashing records in places. Kemptville had over 90mm. Flooding was reported in area businesses. In the Renfrew area many fields were underwater with bales of hay floating away. Part of the embankment under the tracks on the Wakefield Steam Train line north of Ottawa were washed away.

In Saskatchewan it is the lack of rain and the blazing heat. A record and dangerous heatwave is underway in that province as well as Manitoba, the Dakotas and Montana. Temperatures soared to 38C in Val Marie, Saskatchewan yesterday and again today. Some place will reach 40C tomorrow. Only slight relief is on tap the middle part of the week with a stray shower or two, then back into the mid thirties to end the week.

Merrickville-Wolford - Kemptville
1:39 PM EDT Friday 20 July 2007
Rainfall warning for Merrickville-Wolford - Kemptville continued. Heavy downpours expected to continue this afternoon. An upper disturbance affecting eastern Ontario this afternoon will continue to produce heavy rain. Several localities have already reported amounts of 50 to 100 millimetres. Over 75mm in Kemptville. Additional local rain amounts up to 50 millimetres are possible. Visibility may be occasionally reduced in heavy downpours. Rain will taper to scattered showers in the next couple of hours for the City of Ottawa but linger until early this evening along the Seaway Valley.

Flooding on Prescott Street in Kemptville

Flooding Rains continue in Ontario

70mm since last night

Torrential rains continue to fall in Eastern Ontario at noon. The heavy rains are beginning to cause flooding in basements and businesses in the Kemptville area. Over 7cm (70mm or 3 inches!) of rain has fallen, most of that since 4am. The rain is filling ditches, and rivers are beginning to rise.

Pumps have been brought in the help the businesses on Prescott Street in Kemptville.

The system responsible is spinning in place over the 416 corridor and is continuing to dump heavy rain. Warnings remain in effect.

Totals to 10am:

LOCATION

TORONTO (DOWNTOWN) 62mm

TORONTO (DOWNSVIEW) 40

TORONTO (BURNHAMTHORPE) 48

APPLETON (SW OF OTTAWA) 63

BALACLAVA (NEAR RENFREW) 93

BARRIE 44

COBOURG 47

COLDWATER 100

COLLINGWOOD 49

DRUMMOND CENTRE 40 (N OF PERTH)

KEMPTVILLE 58 to 10am 12 more mm since

MUSKOKA 61

ORILLIA 106

OTTAWA 43 (AS OF 10 AM)

PETERBOROUGH 23

PETAWAWA 102

TRENTON 20

Over 60mm of rain has fallen in Kemptville in the past 24 hours

Heavy Rain and Flooding
If you built an arc, kudos to you. It has been raining heavily since about 4am in Kemptville. We have had 60mm in the past 24 hours most of that, about 40mm falling since 4am. The water is ponding on roadways and poor drainage areas and causing slick travel.


Heavy Rain Warnings are in effect for all of southeastern Ontario. The culprit is a slow moving upper low spinning over our area. There have even been embedded thunderstorms adding to the totals. The rain is falling in upstate New York as well where Flood Advisories have been posted for St. Lawrence County. The rain should taper off by noon, leaving an excellent weekend behind it.

More sun than rain east
Blazing heat west

The sun is shinning a little more these days in Ontario and Quebec, despite this however it remains cooler than normal. The normal high in Montreal and Ottawa should be 27C. So far this summer more than 75 per cent of the days have had some form of rainfall, be it showers or thunderstorms. There have been numerous reports of hail and severe weather as well, and just generally unsettled. Last night (Sunday, July 15) thunderstorms raced across the St. Lawrence Valley and into the Valleyfield area around 9pm, with spectacular lightning, hail and heavy rain.

This pattern will continue again this week in Ontario, at least till Friday. Temperatures will be in the mid-twenties, with the threat of showers each day.

The west is a much different story. A large ridge of high pressure building in from the desert southwest will push very hot air into parts of Alberta and Saskatchewan. Temperatures are expected to soar into the 30's and approach 40C by the weekend over Saskatchewan and Montana. Keep cool! Along the boundary of warm air, thunderstorms produced golf ball and baseball size hail in Alberta today.

The east will warm up into next week I believe. That is little comfort for those who have tried to camp, or swim on the five weekends so far this summer. Each one has sported below normal temperatures and rain. So far, next weekend looks good...keep your fingers and toes crossed!

Smiths Falls - Perth - Eastern Lanark County
12:34 PM EDT Wednesday 11 July 2007

Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Smiths Falls - Perth - Eastern Lanark County downgraded from tornado warning. A line of strong to severe thunderstorms is eastward across the above regions. Some of these storms contain damaging winds and large hail. Some of these storms could also produce tornadoes.

Smiths Falls - Perth - Eastern Lanark County
12:22 PM EDT Wednesday 11 July 2007

Tornado warning for Smiths Falls - Perth - Eastern Lanark County
A possible tornado is located between Renfrew and White Lake. This dangerous storm is moving eastward toward the Arnprior area.Please refer to the latest public forecasts for further details.Please refer to the latest public forecasts for further details.

It will be a dangerous couple of hours in Eastern Ontario. Stay alert, the front should pass by 3pm east of our area.

Tornado Warnings in Ontario

Supercell thunderstorms are developing in the very warm humid air across Ontario, Quebec and New York.

Keep and eye to the sky and check out the weather links on the left hand side.

Here is my weather column from the Iroquois Chieftain for this week...

More wicked severe summer weather developed again across Ontario this week. Two more tornadoes touched down just south of Walkerville. The tornadoes were part of a very impressive supercell thunderstorm that moved off Lake Huron towards Lake Erie. It lasted over 7 hours and produced hail and fierce straight line winds. Damage was limited to some farms with no injuries reported. In our area several thunderstorms popped up in the warm and humid air mass on Monday. The storms developed rapidly and moved south along a line from Winchester to Cardinal and east to Morrisburg. To show you just how fast these storms can surprise you on an otherwise fair day, within 30 minutes the storms had developed and moved south of the river into central New York. By the time warnings were issued the storms had passed out of our area. When the air is extremely unstable with high humidity and heat, thunderstorms are always possible. Learn how to spot them before they affect you and seek shelter, especially if you are on the open water, or the golf course.
The storms are part of the leading edge of very hot, searing heat that has been affecting the US and west. It was close to 40C in southwest Saskatchewan and southern Alberta late last week. Meanwhile triple digit Fahrenheit heat and record wildfires continue to affect the US West. Hundreds of thousands of acres are burning from South Dakota to California. One wildfire in Utah, is a killer, and is consuming at times, an astonishing 10,000 acres an hour.
We will continue to be on the edge of this heat with numerous weather systems bringing us bouts of hot followed by very cool weather and in between thunderstorms. This is typical Summer weather in our latitudes especially when we are on the fringe of the warm high pressure that is heating up the US.
For updates and important links to weather right here in the Seaway, visit my website at http://valleyweather.blogspot.com/

Above: A car is consumed by a landslide in Ottawa.

Below: Torn branches from severe weather near Walkerton

High risk of severe weather today

Severe Thunderstorm Watches have been posted for a wide area of upstate New York, Vermont, Southern Quebec and have been extended into Eastern Ontario. This morning a series of storms swept across the area with hail, high winds and heavy rain. These storms came on the heals of yesterday's storms that produced heavy rain and tornadoes in southwest Ontario. The heavy rain in the Ottawa area, over 20mm, contributed to a landslide that swept a car down a 25 metre embankment. No one was injured but 21 people were evacuated from nearby homes.

Environment Canada has confirmed that 2 tornadoes touched down in the farm country west of Walkerton, Ontario yesterday. Thousands are without power. The air remains sultry in the province with very high humidity and temperatures approaching 30C in many areas. The heat is spreading north from the US where a two week triple digit heatwave countinues, and is spreading to the east.

The risk is high for severe weather in our area today, stay alert.

Humidex readings will approach 40C.

Record Heat

It was a steamy day across Ontario yesterday with numerous record highs recorded including the 34C in Ottawa and 35C in Kemptville. It remains hot today with heat and humidity advisories posted for all our areas. Air Quality Advisories are also posted in New York State. At noon today it is 32C in Ottawa with the highest humidex in country at 44C!

The end to the heat is upon us as a cold front cuts into our area. Our focus now shifts to severe weather with the potential for heavy thunderstorms across the entire southern half of Ontario and into the Seaway and Quebec this afternoon and evening. The main threat will be abundant rainfall in the humid air mass, over 50mm is possible. High winds and dangerous lightning are also a risk

http://www.weatheroffice.gc.ca/warnings/report_e.html?on10