Canada Day festivities will resume once the tornado threat has passed
Canada Day festivities in Ottawa-Gatineau have resumed after being suspended Saturday afternoon amid several tornado watches and severe thunderstorm warnings.
Conditions favored the development of severe thunderstorms that could spawn tornadoes, Environment Canada said in a tornado warning for Ottawa at 1:06 p.m.
About two hours later, Canadian Heritage said Canada Day activities in the National Capital Region would be suspended until further notice.
It is the authority that organizes events in LeBreton Flats and Parliament Hill, including musical performances and a fireworks display.
Shortly after 6:30 p.m., Canadian Heritage said the previous inclement weather had passed and the evening show at LeBreton Flats Park would go ahead as originally scheduled.
Fireworks are still scheduled to close out the evening, their statement said.
⚠️The event area at LeBreton Flats has reopened. Go here for more info to plan your trip to the center. https://t.co/7NYHJxhxFC
Torrential downpours, large hail and wind gusts of up to 90 kilometers per hour were all possible in Ottawa and the wider region, according to Environment Canada’s early afternoon warnings.
Severe thunderstorms were possible throughout the afternoon and evening, the agency said, calling it a “dangerous and potentially life-threatening situation.”
The agency issued a severe thunderstorm warning for Ottawa shortly after 2:30 p.m., saying it was tracking a series of thunderstorms “that can bring very strong wind gusts, up to ton-sized hail and heavy rain.”
As of 6:30 p.m., most thunderstorm warnings and all tornado watches had been lifted in eastern Ontario.
Numerous thunderstorm watches remained in effect, but by 10:30 p.m. most were no longer in effect.
