Cleanup continues after destructive Ontario thunderstorms and hail

Crews in southern Ontario are continuing cleanup and restoration work after severe thunderstorms brought heavy rain, strong winds and hail earlier this week. The storm caused widespread damage across the region, knocking out power for many homes and businesses, toppling trees, bringing down power lines and flooding major roads. In some areas, rainfall exceeded 100 millimetres on Wednesday. Toronto fire officials said they handled nearly 1,500 calls over a 24hour period, one of the busiest days in the department’s history. City officials also described the event as an extremely rare storm, and damage at Toronto’s Rogers Stadium included rippedout bleachers and partially collapsed grandstands. The Northern Tornadoes Project said the city’s damage appears to have been caused by downbursts.