Cleanup efforts are underway in Toronto after a severe storm unleashed an extraordinary amount of rain on the city, causing widespread flooding and significant disruptions. The storm, which occurred earlier today, brought more than a month’s worth of rainfall in just a few hours, leaving parts of the city submerged and prompting emergency responses.
A major freeway connecting the northern part of Toronto to the downtown core was heavily affected. Several people had to be rescued from their vehicles, which were stranded and submerged in the floodwaters. Many others were left on the water’s edge with no safe route to drive around the affected areas. Some residents tried to make the best of a challenging situation, but the severity of the flooding posed serious challenges.
The unprecedented downpour was a result of a series of “training thunderstorms” that passed over the region. In just three hours, Toronto received more rainfall than it typically would in the entire month of July, making it the fifth wettest day ever recorded at Toronto Pearson International Airport.
The storm’s magnitude and impact drew comparisons to the significant flood event on July 8, 2013, when Toronto experienced approximately 125 millimeters of rain, causing around a billion dollars in damage. Today’s storm brought nearly 100 millimeters of rain in just three hours, approaching the 2013 record. This deluge followed a particularly wet week, making it the wettest seven-day period in over a century. The intense rainfall, compounded by previous storms, overwhelmed the city’s rivers and ground, leading to substantial runoff and flooding. This storm ranks as the third rainiest July day on record for Toronto and the fifth rainiest day overall since records began.
Parts of Union Station were flooded, a sight that long-time residents and commuters had never seen before. The Don Valley Parkway, a major thoroughfare in the city, was completely submerged, making it difficult to distinguish the river from the highway itself. Floodwaters, containing sewage, pesticides, and other hazardous chemicals, added to the dangers faced by residents.
Severe thunderstorm and rainfall warnings remain in effect for parts of Southern Ontario, including Branford and Hamilton. Although these storms are unlikely to reach Toronto, they pose additional risks to regions that received less rainfall initially. The storm’s movement has been tracked, showing its progress from Toronto to the northeastern United States.
While the city’s response to the storm showcased some effective emergency measures the event underscored critical vulnerabilities in Toronto’s infrastructure. Despite significant investments and improvements since the 2013 flood, the recurrence of severe flooding in key areas like the Don Valley Parkway indicates that more robust and comprehensive solutions are needed. The inability to prevent such extensive damage and disruption from a predictable weather event calls for a thorough reassessment of the city’s flood management strategies and infrastructure resilience. It is imperative that Toronto prioritizes and accelerates its efforts to mitigate the impact of future storms, ensuring the safety and well-being of its residents.