6 tornado watches issued across Southern Ontario this afternoon

If you’re heading out of Toronto today, you might want to keep an eye on the weather.

Environment Canada has issued six tornado warnings across Southern Ontario for Tuesday afternoon.

The warnings are currently for Brockville, Ottawa, Cornwall, Prescott and Russel, Renfrew, and Smiths Falls. In its warnings, Environment Canada states that conditions are favourable for the development of severe thunderstorms with the main threats being large hail, damaging wind gusts, and torrential downpours. The threat for isolated tornadoes is expected to develop later this afternoon.

09:22 EnvCanada issued watch #Tornado #Ottawa(KanataOrléans) #ONStorm https://t.co/qxCkQ6VCHN

— Ottawa-KanataOrléans (@ECAlertON118) August 22, 2017

In the event of a tornado, or if a tornado warning is issued for your area, Environment Canada recommends you take the following actions: Go indoors to a room on the lowest floor, away from outside walls and windows, such as a basement, bathroom, stairwell or interior closet. Leave mobile homes, vehicles, tents, trailers and other temporary or free-standing shelter, and move to a strong building if you can. As a last resort, lie in a low spot and protect your head from flying debris.

Tornado watches are issued when atmospheric conditions are favourable for the development of thunderstorms that could produce tornadoes.

Environment Canada’s Tornado watch

Toronto’s weather today is calling for showers with risk of a thunderstorm and winds gusting to 50 km per hour.

But thankfully no risk of tornadoes here.

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