Severe thunderstorm watch

Hold Onto Your Umbrellas, Canada! Thunderstorms Are Coming!

Severe thunderstorm watches are in effect across Orillia and Barrie! Stay safe and check out the wild weather facts you didn't know!

Attention all residents in Orillia, Barrie, and the northern Kawarthas: Batten down the hatches! A severe thunderstorm watch has just been issued, bringing the potential for large hail, heavy rain, and yes, even tornadoes! Environment Canada is sounding the alarm, urging everyone to stay vigilant as these storms could develop quickly. As they say, if you hear the thunder, it's time to take cover!

With large hail potentially out to play, property damage and injury could be in the forecast if you’re caught unprepared. Large chunks of ice falling from the sky might sound like a scene from a Marvel movie, but there’s nothing super about the interruptions they can cause. Make sure to secure any outdoor furniture and vehicles to avoid the dreaded dent-and-ding transformation from innocent little raindrops to menacing ice balls!

But wait, there’s more! These thunderstorms aren’t just here to rain on your parade; they could also produce heavy downpours, leading to flash floods. You know what they say: A little rain never hurt anyone, but a sudden flash flood? That’s a whole different story! Pooling water can quickly turn your neighborhood into a ski resort (without the snow), so keep an eye out for any unusual water levels in your area.

As we brace for the possibility of tornadoes along with these storms, let’s remember that tornadoes can be fascinating disasters! Did you know that the infamous "Tornado Alley" in the United States sees over 1,000 tornadoes each year? Even more interesting, the most powerful tornado ever recorded was the EF-5 that struck Joplin, Missouri in 2011, causing damages of over $2.8 billion! So while we may not have the same frequency of tornadoes in Canada, it's still wise to respect these unpredictable weather events.