A flash flood in downtown Toronto on Tuesday evening submerged cars and trapped pedestrians after a heavy rain storm, which reportedly was a result of 100 mm of rainfall in less than three hours in some parts of the core.
SEVERE WEATHER | Toronto floods
Must see: How and why Toronto got so swamped, so fast
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Caroline Floyd
Meteorologist
Wednesday, August 8, 2018, 3:15 PM - Downtown Toronto was in the wrong place at the wrong time Tuesday night, as a slow-moving area of tropical moisture-fueled rain showers absolutely drenched the city. Radar estimates indicate that some spots received more than 100 mm in less than 3 hours, causing extensive flooding over parts of the downtown core. Didn't see any rain last night? You're not alone -- the heaviest rain was concentrated over a very small area, and that made the difference between seeing more than 70 mm of rain, or 2, over a distance that's probably shorter than your morning commute.
We take a look at some of the amazing images from the event, as well as the cause, below.
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WEATHER HIGHLIGHTS:
Radar indicates heaviest rainfall amounts were locally greater than 120 mm
Heaviest rain fell from North York, near the 400/401 interchange, then south across Downtown Toronto to Toronto Island
Heavy rain was very localized; Pearson recorded only 6 mm, Buttonville only 2.4 mm
WATCH BELOW: RADAR IMAGES SHOW THE SLOW-MOVING CLUSTER OF STORMS DRENCHING THE CITY
WHAT HAPPENED?
Storms developed around 7:30 pm Tuesday evening, when a lingering afternoon lake breeze off of Lake Ontario butted up against a gradually southward-moving boundary from the northeast, which was likely the lake breeze generated by Georgian Bay. This created a local boundary with enhanced lift right along the 401 corridor north of the city, which in turn teamed up with significant tropical moisture in the atmosphere to unleash a deluge that drifted very slowly south as the storm motion overcame the dying lake breeze -- right over the downtown core.
The result was widespread flash flooding, as rain quickly overwhelmed drainage systems and flooded underpasses, roads, and, in some cases, buildings. Toronto Police services responded to numerous rescue calls through the night, including one case of two men being trapped in a rapidly-filling elevator.
Flooding rescue: Alliance Ave / Rockcliffe Blvd
-2 people stuck in an elevator in a bsmt building
-water was 6 ft high inside
-Police rescue 2 men with only 1 foot of air space left
-injuries reported, non life threatening
-TFS/EMS on scene#GO1452695
^ka — Toronto Police OPS (@TPSOperations) August 8, 2018
Flooding: Wilson Ave / Dubray Ave
-flooding under the bridge
-3 vehs stuck, occupants out of vehs
-TFS /Police on scene
-Eastbound on Keele and Westbound at Dufferin closed#GO1451476
^ka — Toronto Police OPS (@TPSOperations) August 8, 2018
Tonight’s storm and heavy rains are driving high call volumes for @Toronto_Fire crews tonight. At present, our crews are managing 50 concurrent incidents. Please be safe and alert as you move around the city - lots of standing water on the roads. Current CAD view screenshot. pic.twitter.com/aWGXROB5j1 — Matthew Pegg (@ChiefPeggTFS) August 8, 2018
Another round of rain moving in from the south delayed the drainage of standing waters in some places Wednesday morning. Toronto traffic cameras still showed water covering some roads by the start of morning rush hour. Fortunately the heaviest of this latest batch of rain moved over the Niagara Peninsula, rather than over the city itself. Isolated showers and thunderstorms are again possible across the region Wednesday afternoon.
Below are some of the remarkable images and videos that emerged from Tuesday night's flash flooding event.
Two cars almost completely submerged on Simcoe just south of Front #onstorm @weathernetwork pic.twitter.com/NEXGzjIbqF — Kelly Sonnenburg TWN (@kellysonnenburg) August 8, 2018
Toronto Flooding - As water starts to subside we can finally see the 3 vehicles in the underpass at Wilson Ave near Keele St. #onstorm pic.twitter.com/k8J0VZFZq2 — Tony Smyth (@LateNightCam) August 8, 2018
A friend sent me this video of Scotiabank Arena (Formally known as Air Canada Centre/ACC) flooding tonight. This happened after the Shakira concert. @CP24 #ONStorm pic.twitter.com/YZ91tKUv4F — Kris Pangilinan (@KrisReports) August 8, 2018
WATCH BELOW: 'WATER WAS UP TO HERE': MAN, COPS SPEAK ABOUT HEROIC ELEVATOR RESCUE IN TORONTO FLOODS
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