OttawaEnvironment Canada has issued severe thunderstorm watches for most of eastern Ontario and western Quebec on Thursday afternoon and evening, noting a tornado could develop in some places.Severe thunderstorm watches cover most of the regionCBC News · Posted: Jul 24, 2025 10:29 AM EDT | Last Updated: 13 minutes agoA pedestrian runs across a street as the sky darkens and heavy rain pours down in downtown Ottawa in June 2024. (The Canadian Press/Justin Tang)Environment Canada has issued severe thunderstorm watches for most of eastern Ontario and western Quebec on Thursday afternoon and evening, noting a tornado could develop in some places.The tornado risk covers western Quebec except for Gatineau and Grenville-sur-la-Rouge, plus eastern Ontario communities northwest of a line roughly stretching from Arnprior to Bancroft.Forecasters also mention strong gusts of wind, large hail and heavy rain along with lightning. Those are the threats the storm poses for communities east of that tornado risk, from Hawkesbury through Ottawa-Gatineau to Kaladar and beyond.Forecasters are not expecting a tornado risk in those places.Environment Canada has been mentioning the possibility of tornadoes for eastern Ontario since Tuesday. Environment Canada recommends staying indoors and taking cover in a basement where possible during these types of threatening weather, and notes strong winds can damage trees or buildings and overturn vehicles.It issues a severe thunderstorm watch when conditions are favourable for a storm to develop. A warning is issued when there is evidence that a thunderstorm is imminent or occurring that will produce damaging hail, wind or rain.Tornado watches and warnings follow a similar system. Here’s what to do during a tornado alert Use CBC Lite for low-bandwith news if you lose power, internet A very hot Thursday is also expected, with Ottawa reaching 33 C and feeling like 42 with humidity by 3 p.m.. That’s warning-worthy heat, but it won’t last long enough: Friday’s forecasted high for the capital is back to a seasonal 27 C.
Tornado risk north, west of Ottawa-Gatineau on Thursday
