Emergency services deal with the aftermath of a reported tornado in southwestern Ontario

While much of the area is under a tornado warning, a tornado may have touched down in Ayr, Ontario, on Saturday morning, North Dumfries Township said.

On its website, the city noted that the tornado may have touched down near Greenfield and Northhumberland Road shortly before 10:50 a.m.

At 10:42 a.m., Environment Canada issued a tornado warning for the area, stating that they were “monitoring a severe thunderstorm with the potential to produce a tornado. This severe thunderstorm is located near Plattsville and is moving 35 km to the northeast.”

Environment Canada said it is investigating whether a tornado touched down in a southwestern Ontario community on Saturday as part of a storm system that is bringing thunderstorms and heavy rain to much of the province.

Meteorologist Trudy Kidd told the Canadian Press that radar images suggest a tornado started at 10:36 a.m. in Ayr, about 115 kilometers (71 miles) west of Toronto. A team from Western University’s Northern Tornadoes Project was on the scene gathering more details.

According to the council, there has been extensive damage to Cowan Park sports ground, as well as to properties on Greenfield Road West and along the Northumberland Street corridor.

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“Emergency services were dispatched to the affected area immediately after the first report of property damage,” the municipality said. “The teams are still on site and have now been supplemented by resources from GrandBridge Energy.”

The storm passed by late afternoon but left a trail of fallen trees and power lines, said Sue Foxton, mayor of North Dumfries, the borough that includes Ayr.

Parts of walls and roofs were also torn off local buildings, she told The Canadian Press.

“We had wind, but not that much rain,” she said, noting that damage was severe in some areas.

The city said a local company is also checking the cars, as Waterloo Regional Police reported that some may have derailed.

“WRPS also received reports of a derailed train in the area, with multiple cars overturned,” police said. “There were no reports of hazardous materials. The incident was handled by railroad employees and no emergency response was required.”

Police also reported damage to a Home Hardware business, where the roof was “partially torn off.”

“The company was evacuated and all employees and customers were able to get out safely.”

North Dumfries reported that health checks are currently being carried out by the fire service and that no injuries have been reported so far.

They are asking the public not to enter the area by car, as traffic congestion is preventing emergency services from carrying out their duties.

Several communities in southern Ontario are under a special weather warning through the end of the weekend, with up to 80 millimetres of rain expected through Sunday.

“This weather pattern typically brings rapidly changing conditions, ranging from sunny skies to heavy downpours,” the agency said. “Rainstorm warnings may be needed and issued at short notice to reflect rapidly changing conditions.”

*With files from The Canadian Press

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