Apparent tornado touches down in Ayr, Ont., downing trees and power lines and damaging business

An apparent tornado touched down in Ayr, Ont., on Saturday morning following an emergency warning issued by Environment Canada, downing trees and power lines and causing heavy damage to at least one home and business.

The weather agency's meteorologists saidthey were tracking a severe thunderstorm near Plattsvillethat could produce a tornado, prompting it to issue anofficial tornado warning for parts of Waterloo region and surrounding areas.

According to North Dumfriesfire Chief Robert Shantz, a tornado touched down around 11 a.m. ET. An official with the Northern Tornadoes Project (NTP) at Western University also said it was a tornado.

Environment Canada hasn't yet confirmed the weather system touched down, but told CBC Newsthere were indications of debris in Ayr on the radar.

WATCH | Apparent tornado touches down in Ayr, Ont., causing damage to business:

Apparent tornado touches down in Ayr, Ont., causing damage to business

1 month ago

Duration 0:13

This video submitted by Jenna Hammond shows what the North Dumfries fire chief is calling a tornado touching down in Ayr, Ont. It reportedly caused heavy damage to a Home Hardware, according to Robert Shantz. This comes as a large area around the Waterloo region was under a tornado warning Saturday morning. There are no reports of injuries. Several surrounding businesses were evacuated.

Ayr resident Kelly Bebeneksaid thatof the 70 trees on her property, only four remain.

She said the tornado broke two new windows installed in her house on Friday.It also ripped the roof off her daughter's bedroom and water beganentering the house.

"I go between laughing and crying," Bebenek said.

Dave Sills, executive director of the Northern Tornadoes Project (NTP) at Western University in London, Ont., also said a tornado hit Ayr. The project investigates tornadoes across the country.

His team arrived on scene from London, Ont., to conduct a damage survey including assessing the tornado's length, width and strength.

Sills said there have been few strong tornadoes in southern Ontario this year.

"We'll see if this is an exception," he said.

WATCH | Damage to feed mill lot from reported tornado:

Video shows aftermath of reported tornado in Ayr, Ont.

1 month ago

Duration 0:09

A video taken by Keith Gormans shows damage to a feed mill lot after an apparent tornado touched down in Ayr, Ont., on Saturday morning. Roof shingles, pieces of wood and other debris can be seen strewn about on the ground of FS Partners. The local fire chief said the tornado touched down around 11 a.m. ET and caused heavy damage to a Home Hardware across the street.

In a news release Saturday afternoon, the Township of North Dumfries said there was a "localized cluster of extensive damage" along Greenfield Road W., between Trussler Road and Northumberland Street.

The release attributes the damage to a significant summer storm, consisting of heavy winds, heavy rainfall and lightning. It does not refer to a tornado.

Many large trees are down on Greenfield Road West, which was closed to traffic, the release said. There were also downed power lines on the roadnear Northumberland Street.

Cowan Park and the Northumberland Street corridor, close to the Greenfield Road intersection, also sustained extensive damage.

Emergency crews and GrandBridge Energy were on scene, the release said. Hydro wasout in the area and was gradually being restored.

"It is anticipated that the power outage in and immediately adjacent [to the] the high impact zone will be out for an extended time period," the township said.

No injuries are being reported from "high impact properties," the release added.

North Dumfries Mayor Sue Foxton asked residents to stay off Northumberland Street. She said a number of cars are driving down the road to see the damage, preventing emergency vehicles from getting through.

"Lets really take care of this situation by allowing people to do the best job they can as quickly as they can," she said.

Home Hardware storedamaged: meteorologist

Trudy Kidd, a meteorologist with Environment Canada, saidif thereis no indication oftouchdown, it would be considered a funnel cloud. They are still investigating.

Shantz addedthe local Home Hardware store sustained heavy damage.

The hardware storeand surrounding businesseswereevacuated andno injuries were reported.

North Dumfries fire crews remain on the scenedue to the smell of natural gas.

Meanwhile, Waterloo Regional Police Service (WRPS)sayGreenfield Drive between Trussler and Northumberland is closed due to downed trees and hydro poles.

"Do not approach or drive over a downed power line and do not touch anything it may be in contact with," a post by WRPS on social media said.

"Downed wires should always be considered energized or "live,"and extremely dangerous."

Many residents received notifications on their phone Saturday morning around 10:43 a.m., warning them of the potentially hazardous weather.

Another alert was issued shortly after at 11:03 a.m.

The weather agency was advisingresidents to take cover immediately if threatening weather approaches and notes this is a dangerous and potentially life-threatening situation.

Environment Canada says tornado warnings are issued when imminent or occurring thunderstorms are likely to produce or are producing tornadoes.

Severe thunderstormwatch, rain warning in effect

Environment Canada also issued a tornado watch forKitchener, Cambridge and Waterloo late Saturday morning, but ithas since been downgraded to a severe thunderstorm watch.

The watch says conditions are favourable for the development of severe thunderstorms that may produce heavy rain, along with strong wind gusts andlarge hail.

Wind gusts could reach up to 90km/hwith toonie-sized hail and heavy downpours.

A rainfall warning is also in effect for the region.Between 50 and100 mm of rain areexpected to fall, the weather agency said.

Rainis expected tocontinue into Sunday.