OttawaAn earlier tornado warning for the Pembroke area has ended, but a severe thunderstorm warning has popped up just across the Ottawa River west of Gatineau.A severe thunderstorm warning is in place west of GatineauCBC News · Posted: Jul 17, 2025 9:41 AM EDT | Last Updated: 2 hours agoPeople hold umbrellas as they make their way through heavy rain in Ottawa in June 2024. (The Canadian Press/Justin Tang) A brief tornado warning for the Pembroke area has ended, but a severe thunderstorm warning is in place just across the Ottawa River west of Gatineau.Overall, eastern Ontario and western Quebec could see heavy wind, rain and lightning Thursday under a swath of severe thunderstorm watches, according to Environment Canada.Forecasters say there’s also the risk of a tornado around Ottawa on Thursday afternoon. There is no mention of a tornado risk for communities such as Bancroft, Belleville and Pembroke.Wind gusts up to 90 or 100 km/h are possible across eastern Ontario, and the area could get more than 50 millimetres of rain. The storms could bring hail to the Outaouais.A severe thunderstorm made its way east across the Algonquin Park area mid-morning Thursday. A strong thunderstorm with the possibility of a tornado hit the Pembroke area late Thursday morning.Some local heat warnings remain, but are expected to end soon. A cold front moving into the region is contributing to the potential storms, forecasters say.If a tornado forms, residents are advised to stay away from exterior walls and windows, ideally in a basement or on the ground floor, and to get out of vehicles. Here’s what to do during a tornado alert Use CBC Lite for low-bandwith news if you lose power, internet Environment Canada recommends staying indoors and take cover in a basement where possible during 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.
Severe thunderstorm watches cover the Ottawa area
