Ottawa is grappling with widespread flooding following heavy rains on Thursday. The thunderstorm was accompanied by hail and powerful winds, according to reports by multiple outlets.
Environment Canada issued a severe thunderstorm warning, alerting residents of the possibility of heavy rainfall, hail of a size comparable to a two-dollar coin, and wind gusts reaching 90 km/h. The weather agency said that over 70 mm of rain was recorded in the capital.
Some residents took to social media to report even higher rainfall measurements, according to CityNews Ottawa, with estimates ranging from 80 mm to as much as 100 mm in certain parts of the city.
They also shared photos and videos of flooded streets and buildings. Some show submerged vehicles, while others capture people wading through the water.
Lol how’s YOUR day going? đź“ŤBank and Riverside #ottnews #ottweather #ottawa @ctvottawa @BlacksWeather @ConnorMockettWX pic.twitter.com/UNKfIOuXhJ
— emily (@freewillymj) August 10, 2023
Multiple road closures reported by Ottawa Fire Services (OFS) and the Ottawa Police Service (OPS). Some of the hardest-hit areas included Woodroffe Avenue, Merivale Road, Meadowlands Drive, Walkley Road, Industrial Road, and St. Laurent Boulevard.
Some 24,000 Hydro Ottawa customers were additionally left without power Thursday afternoon, as small outages happened across the city.
Mayor Mark Sutcliffe said officials are addressing “the most affected areas first,” according to CTV News.
“Every resource that we have available is being deployed to resolve issues as quickly as possible,” said Sutcliffe.
Earlier this month, portions of Ottawa’s west end had to deal with a thunderstorm that brought down trees and damaged vehicles and properties. One insurance broker working in the area said that 2023 is proving to be busier than last year in terms of damages and claims.
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