Hamilton, Niagara regions under severe thunderstorm watch

Following hot, muggy weatherin Hamilton and surrounding areas earlier on Wednesday, Environment Canadaissued a severe thunderstorm watch for the region.

"Thunderstorms will develop along a cold front that will move through the province this evening," the weather agency saidlate afternoon,adding that the storms could bring "strong wind gusts, large hail and heavy rain."

Wind gusts of 90 km/h andtoonie-sized hail were possible, it said.

Similar weather alerts were issued for the Niagara Region, Brantford and Burlington.

By early evening however, skies remained clear in Hamilton.

The thunderstorm watch comes on the second day of high, humid temperatures. Early Wednesday afternoon in Hamilton reached 27 C, with temperatures feeling like33 C with the humidity.CBC News's climate dashboard said themaximum temperature of 28 C expected this weekis 9 C above average.

Emergency Management Ontario recommendedthat people "take cover immediately if threatening weather approaches," Environment Canada said, warning that hail can damage propertyand cause injury, while "heavy downpours can cause flash floods."

Sunny weather is expected to return Thursday, anda slightly cooler temperature is expected with a high of 25 C.