University of Western Ontario officials continue to monitor the weather after Environment Canada updated a severe weather bulletin for southern Ontario.
“We’ve been receiving calls about the weather and have been keeping track of the storms that formed over the Sault Ste. Marie area and are moving toward southwestern Ontario,” says Elgin Austen, director of Western’s Campus Community Police Service. “People are generally nervous considering the recent tornado in Goderich.”
On Sunday, Aug. 21, an F3 tornado ripped through Goderich demolishing a number of buildings, especially in the downtown area, and doing still-uncounted damage. One person died in the event.
Currently, a tornado watch is continued for Strathroy, Komoka, Middlesex County and London.
A watch refers to the environmental storm conditions that are forming; a warning is the next level and indicates the situation is more serious and cover should be taken in the areas identified.
A line of thunderstorms is expected to develop over Lake Huron then track rapidly eastward across southern Ontario late this afternoon and evening. The threat for storms will begin in areas near Lake Huron between 4-5 p.m. then move eastward to reach a line from eastern Lake Erie through the Golden Horseshoe to the Upper Ottawa Valley by 8 p.m.
Some of these storms will have the potential to be severe with large hail, damaging winds and torrential downpours. There will also be the potential for isolated tornadoes.
“Right now we see a storm watch over Owen Sound which should be classified as an advisory to people in this area and some nasty weather seems to be behind it,” Austen says. “However, as these summer storms can form and change direction or discontinue quickly, this should only serve as a reminder to keep an eye on the weather this afternoon and evening.”
Western officials regularly track storms as identified on Exeter Radar, through a direct link with Environment Canada, and with weather radio in the university’s communications centre.