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

Humidex Values near 40C Tuesday

High heat and humidity warnings are in effect for most of Ontario and southwest Quebec for Tuesday and Wednesday. A very muggy air mass from the US will invade the area. Temperatures will soar into the mid 30's with Humidex values approaching 40-45C. Drink plenty of fluids and limit outdoor activities. The very young and old are at particular risk as well as those living in large urban areas.

Thunderstorms will cool us off late Wednesday.

An amazing photo from CTV.ca of the Elie tornado

Saskatchewan and Manitoba
hammered by severe weather

Environment Canada has confirmed that the tornado that touched down in the Trans Canada Highway community of Elie, Manitoba west of Winnipeg was an F-4 tornado on the Fujita Scale of 0-5. The very rare storm was intense, capable of producing winds in excess of 250km/h. Damage was severe in the town with many homes destroyed. It was a miracle that no injuries occurred. The storm was part of a series of twisters over 5, and thunderstorms that produced severe damage across both Saskatchewan and Manitoba Friday and Saturday. Golf ball size hail flattened crops while strong winds and lightning knocked down trees and left many communities in the dark.

In Ontario last weeks thunderstorms caused a house to burn down on Wednesday, just west of Kemptville on Donahue Road. Both Kemptville and Merrickville Fire Departments responded to the call. I will post pictures tomorrow.

The system that is producing the sever weather in the west will cause heat and humidity to be on the increase in Ontario and Quebec this week before another cool down by the weekend. Before that expect temperatures in the low 30's this week with thunderstorm activity on the rise.

Damage in Elie, Manitoba

Happy Summer

Summer arrives at 14:06 EDT today and it is the longest day of the year. The sun rose over eastern Ontario at 5:15 this morning and will set at 8:53 tonight. That will give us 15:38 minutes of daylight. Sadly the days begin to shorten from here.

According to www.almanac.com the timing of the summer solstice depends on when the Sun reaches its farthest point north of the equator. This usually occurs annually sometime between June 20 and 22, announcing the beginning of summer. The word solstice is from the Latin solstitium, from sol (sun) and stitium (to stop), reflecting the fact that the Sun appears to stop at this time.

The weather will be partly cloudy today with a good chance of thunderstorms later this afternoon after 2pm. A cold front may trigger some severe weather as well this afternoon in eastern Ontario and Upstate New York with some small hail and gusty winds. The weekend looks sunny and seasonable on Saturday and unsettled with more thunderstorms and humid Sunday. Highs will be in the 22-26C range (72-78F) for the next 4 days.

The Thousand Islands Bridge at Hill Island in yesterday's warm front showers.

Severe Weather possible today in Ontario

Keep a weather eye on the sky today in Ottawa, Montreal and along the Seaway. There is a moderate risk of severe thunderstorm activity as a strong cold front moves into very muggy air. This morning the temperature in Kemptville rose from 12C (54F) at 6am to 22C (72F) at 8am. You could smell the warm air flooding in on southeast winds. It will reach 31C today before the cold front moves in. The front has a history of severe weather across the Great Lakes and Midwest US. Environment Canada has already posted a Watch for our area at the following link:
http://www.weatheroffice.gc.ca/warnings/report_e.html?on41

And from the National Weather Service Office in Vermont

The best threat will be between 3-7pm in our area. Strong winds, heavy rain and even hail are possible.

My 200th Weather post...

A series of thunderstorms swept north from upstate New York on Saturday, June 2. They created widespread damage. Above are some of the pictures taken from Iroquois, Ontario. Below is a mature thunderstorm over the St. Lawrence River Valley.

Photos Joe Morin

Tropical Strom Barry produced heavy rain up the entire East Coast. TheNASCAR race in Dover was rained out this weekend....

Severe storms this afternoon...

The unstable air mass, a stationary front and the remains of Tropical Storm Barry that have been affecting our weather for the last week will all be swept east today by a potent cold front. The air is very unstable and an afternoon of severe thunderstorms is on tap for eastern Ontario and west Quebec.

http://www.weatheroffice.gc.ca/warnings/warnings_e.html

The site above has all the latest warnings. I will have an update on the weekend activity as well later today. Be safe.

Stationary front sparks storms

A stationary front lying along the Ottawa River has been the focus for some big thunderstorms over the last two days. To the south of the front conditions are in the 20's with muggy air. The front is generating these storms which then slide southeast across the river and into Ontario. The result has been heavy rainfall and gusty winds. Some of the storms were affected by the southwest winds blowing south of the front and developed rotation north of Kingston this afternoon. A Tornado Warning was issued but none were reported as of this time.

The front will continue to provide energy and with daytime heating we can expect more storms tomorrow over eastern Ontario and west Quebec.

At this time a Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect for portions of Eastern Ontario including Lanark County and Smiths Falls. More storms are moving south of the front and about to leave the Gatineau Hills and move into Ontario. Stay alert and click on this link for updated warnings...

http://www.weatheroffice.gc.ca/warnings/son_e.html

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH
for:Brockville - Leeds and Grenville Friday, May 25 2:50pm
CONDITIONS ARE FAVOURABLE FOR STRONG THUNDERSTORMS TO DEVELOP FROM 3 PM TO 8 PM. THIS IS AN ALERT TO THE POTENTIAL DEVELOPMENT OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS. MONITOR WEATHER CONDITIONS..LISTEN FOR UPDATED STATEMENTS. IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES TAKE IMMEDIATE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS.

Snow from the train last Monday near Rimouski, Quebec

Record Heat in Ontario

Well a week that started for me in snow on the Gaspe Peninsula is ending with record heat. Many areas of eastern Ontario surpassed record highs yesterday with temperatures from 31C to 33C. This beat records established in 1991. It was hazy and humid as well. Smog Advisories remain in effect across our area and into New York. The air quality will improve tonight as a cold front sweeps across the area. We can expect some thunderstorm activity along the front.

Saturday will be pleasant with seasonable temperatures. Sunday will be showery with some thunderstorms.

While we were enjoying the hot weather yesterday, portions of Alberta had snow. Calgary awoke to about 5cm of wet heavy snow as did parts of Saskatchewan. Frost was reported across the area last night and this morning.

Cool and damp May long weekend
on tap in the east

As the first long weekend of the year approaches, sadly so will cool air and rain for the east coast. It will be only slightly milder - with partly sunny skies in Ontario, while the southern Prairies will have the best weather.

This week's strong cold front and low pressure area that swept across Ontario with heavy rain, over 30mm in Kemptville, and severe weather in southern Ontario, including an F-0 Tornado, is well south of our area now. Cold air has poured in behind the storm with temperautres as cold as 5C in Kemptville. Snow even fell in Quebec and parts of New Brunswick. The front will stall off the east coast and spawn a coastal storm that will head north into Maine. The storm will assure cool and damp weather for the east through Monday, sad to say!

Severe Thunderstorms
in Eastern Ontario

The first outbreak of severe weather is occurring in Ontario and Quebec. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect for all of southeastern Ontario including Lanark, Leeds Grenville and SD&G. Within the watch area severe storms have crossed the St. Lawrence River into the Seaway. The storms should begin to dissipate after sunset.

Keep and eye to the sky this afternoon. Hail and high winds are the main threat with these storms.