Environment Canada has issued a tornado watch on Sunday (August 2) for portions of central and eastern Ontario, including Haliburton County, Hastings Highlands including Bancroft, northern Kawartha Lakes including Fenelon Falls and Balsam Lake Park, and northern Peterborough County including Apsley and Woodview.
Conditions are favourable for the development of severe thunderstorms that may produce tornadoes and scattered damaging wind gusts up to 100 km/h into Sunday evening.
A tornado watch means conditions are favourable for tornadoes and severe thunderstorms. Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for threatening weather conditions and listen for possible warnings.
In the event of a tornado, or if a tornado warning is issued for your area, it is recommended you take the following actions.
Go indoors to a room on the lowest floor, away from outside walls and windows, such as a basement, bathroom, stairwell or interior closet. Leave mobile homes, vehicles, tents, trailers and other temporary or free-standing shelter, and move to a strong building if you can. As a last resort, lie in a low spot and protect your head from flying debris.
For the southern Kawarthas — southern Peterborough County including Peterborough and Lakefield, southern Kawartha Lakes including Lindsay, and Northumberland County including Port Hope and Cobourg — a severe thunderstorm watch is in effect.
Conditions are favourable for the development of severe thunderstorms that may be capable of producing strong wind gusts. Scattered wind gusts up to to 100 km/h are possible into Sunday evening, and a tornado is also possible.
Strong wind gusts can toss loose objects, damage weak buildings, break branches off trees and overturn large vehicles. Lightning kills and injures Canadians every year. Remember, when thunder roars, go indoors!
