Grey Bruce is seeing stormy weather today.
A number of watches and warnings have come and gone, with Environment Canada noting conditions this afternoon have been favourable for the development of dangerous thunderstorms that may be capable of producing damaging wind gusts, large hail and torrential rain.
It has now ended, but at about 2:30 p.m., environment Canada issued a tornado warning for the Owen Sound, Big Bay, Lindenwood and Lake Charles areas. At that time, the weather agency noted it had received reports of a funnel cloud and rotation on its radar imagery.
At about 3 p.m. another tornado warning was issued for east around eastern Grey County, Collingwood, Stayner, Barrie and Hillsdale.
Wind gusts of up to 100 kilometres an hour, ping-pong ball size hail, rainfall amounts in excess of 50 millimetres and a risk of tornadoes are some of the potential hazards Environment Canada identifies in the event of a severe thunderstorm.
Before noon, the weather agency had issued a statement saying, “Thunderstorms are expected today. Some of these thunderstorms may become severe with strong winds, large hail and heavy rain,” an advisory explains. “Tornadoes also can not be ruled out. The potential for severe thunderstorms will come to an end this evening. If conditions become more favourable for tornadoes, this watch will be upgraded to a tornado watch.”
Environment Canada issues severe thunderstorm watches when atmospheric conditions are favourable for the development of thunderstorms that could produce one or more of the following: large hail, damaging winds, torrential rainfall.