Wild and intense Ontario storm leaves a wake of destruction and chaos in Toronto
An intense storm walloped Ontario and the Greater Toronto Area on Saturday, and the region is still picking up the pieces after the fierce system left ten dead, caused extensive property damage, and cut off power to thousands.
It was a weird day for weather, the storm bringing the greatest one-hour drop in temperatures recorded at Pearson Airport in almost 60 years, falling over 12 degrees as storm clouds darkened the skies.
And then there was the wind. Gusts of up to 121 km/h were the strongest recorded since an epic mid-January blizzard blanketed the city, and by far the windiest May 21 on record in the city, with a 50 km/h edge over the next-closest date back in 1958.
My neighbour's new canopy in my balcony this afternoon. πβ pic.twitter.com/G1QSmEoUZB
β MakeLemonade ππ (@Lemonlimezzz) May 21, 2022
Endless photos can be found showing the destruction as the cleanup continues several days later.
I walked to Bloor to hit some green grocers, and the nearby streets are still full of fallen branches and power lines. The storm was on Saturday. We must have missed quite something.#ONStorm #BloorWestVillage #BabyPoint #Toronto pic.twitter.com/XAjZJbxXkz
β The Last Linda (@TheLastLinda) May 23, 2022
But numbers and statistics are only part of the equation, and scenes from the actual storm paint a better picture of what people went through over the long weekend.
Meanwhile, my parentsβ driveway in Mississaugaβ¦ #onstorm pic.twitter.com/7QOA5kx6Zs
β Justine Teplycky (@JustineLewkowic) May 21, 2022
The storm hit much of Southern and Central Ontario hard, similar scenes playing out in places like Peterborough, Kitchener-Waterloo, and Ottawa.
Video taken by my cousins at the Peterborough Speedway Race today. So scary! #ONStorm pic.twitter.com/LQmg1emaJy
β Sarina (@SarinaNezhadian) May 21, 2022
Fallen trees and crushed cars weren't the only challenges to getting around the region on Saturday, as even the city's rapid transit system found itself at the mercy of the storm.
A subway train was immobilized after it ran over a fallen tree near Royal York Subway Station, requiring passengers to be evacuated through subway tunnels.
HAZARD:
β Toronto Police Operations (@TPSOperations) May 21, 2022
Royal York Subway Station
* 1:44 pm *
- Train has run over a tree
- Train is unable to move
- Passengers will be evacuated through the tunnels
- Likely through Islington Station
- Police officers will assist
- All power will be cut#GO954050
^dh pic.twitter.com/RG4GMw80a7
Facades were ripped away from buildings.
Some pictures from yesterday's crazy storm! THE WALL IS GONE!! Imagine sitting at the table and this happens?! #ONStorm #scary #torontostorm #weather #Toronto #Thunderstorm pic.twitter.com/0REoYV2fe7
β Amanda (@Amanda870792253) May 23, 2022
Danger can also bring out the best in some people, like the group of Mississauga pedestrians who went above and beyond to assist an elderly person across a treacherously windy street. Seriously, someone needs to find these people and give them a medal.
Thunder storm today in Mississauga. People coming together to help an older person cross the road. Be careful out there everyone. #Thunderstorm #Mississauga @CP24 pic.twitter.com/JiOnezfz0W
β Camellia Darwish (@CamelliaDarwish) May 21, 2022
And while we're handing out awards for people showing kindness during a dangerous storm, it's worth commending this guy who rescued a baby hawk blown from its nest.
Yesterday's storm blew this baby hawk from its nest in my backyard. It didn't seem injured, and I immediately took it to emergency wildlife rescue. I hope they can re-nest her.#ONStorm #OntarioStorm #TorontoStorm #TorontoWildlife #Toronto pic.twitter.com/Om8XNtQFti
β Douglas Strelshik Law (@ontarioinjuries) May 23, 2022
There were also lesser heroes, like one attendee at FizzFest at Fort York. A person could be seen calmly enduring the deluge of rain as they stood waiting next to a food truck, all as crowds dashed for cover around the patient patron.
