Violent storms leave trail of damage

Jul 12, 2009

Staff Reporters

Although severe thunderstorms lasted only two hours across the GTA and southern Ontario yesterday, the cleanup could take several days and thousands of dollars.

Storms raged across the GTA yesterday morning, knocking down trees, hydro poles and wires, leaving debris and malfunctioning traffic lights in their wake.

It looked as though a hurricane had hit Cawthra Rd., near Atwater Ave. in Mississauga, with at least 30 hydro poles and wires down.

"It was part of the line of thunderstorms, and it could have localized strong wind gusts to do that kind of damage to infrastructure," said meteorologist Arnold Ashton of Environment Canada.

Cawthra Rd. will be closed for several days from Third St. to North Service Rd., and police warn the wires could be dangerous.

Other parts of the GTA were hit by intermittent blackouts.

"I called Hydro One. I called the police. I called my city councillor. Nothing," said one resident of Guildwood Village in Scarborough. "We are getting no information on what's going on, or when this is going to be fixed."

There were also several reports of debris and malfunctioning traffic lights in Toronto, causing police to canvass various intersections to direct traffic.

Environment Canada had issued a severe thunderstorm warning for the Peel, Halton and Hamilton regions shortly before 9 a.m. yesterday, but it was lifted a couple of hours later.

thestar.com