Canada Day festivities in Ottawa-Gatineau have resumed after they were suspended Saturday afternoon amid several tornado watches and severe thunderstorm warnings.
Conditions were favourable for the development of severe thunderstorms that could produce tornadoes, Environment Canada said in a tornado watch alert issued for Ottawa at 1:06 p.m.
About two hours later, Canadian Heritage said its Canada Day activities in the National Capital Region would be suspended until further notice.
It’s the authority organizing events at LeBreton Flats and Parliament Hill, including musical performances and a fireworks show.
Shortly after 6:30 p.m., Canadian Heritage said the earlier inclement weather had passed and the evening show at LeBreton Flats Park would continue as originally scheduled.
Fireworks are still planned to close out the evening, their statement said.
⚠️The event site at LeBreton Flats has reopened. Go here for more info to plan your trip downtown. <a href=”https://t.co/7NYHJxhxFC”>https://t.co/7NYHJxhxFC</a>
—@OC_Transpo
Torrential downpours, large hail and wind gusts up 90 kilometres per hour were all possible in Ottawa and across the wider region, according to the early afternoon alerts from Environment Canada.
Severe thunderstorms were possible throughout the afternoon and into the evening, the agency said, calling it a “dangerous and potentially life-threatening situation.”
The agency issued a severe thunderstorm warning shortly after 2:30 p.m. for Ottawa, saying it was tracking a line of thunderstorms “capable of producing very strong wind gusts, up to toonie-size hail and heavy rain.”
As of 6:30 p.m., most of the thunderstorm warnings and all of the tornado watches issued across eastern Ontario had been lifted.
Numerous thunderstorm watches remain in place.
