Damaging storms, heavy rain possible in southwestern Ontario Tuesday

An unstable mass of swirling storms will make their way into southwestern Ontario Tuesday afternoon, bringing with them heavy rainfall and strong winds that could lead to power outages and other damage.

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) issued rainfall warnings throughout southwestern Ontario early Tuesday morning. While the heavy rains are getting an early start, it’s the afternoon’s storm risk that forecasters are really keeping an eye on.

SEE ALSO: Scud clouds are scary tornado lookalikes – how to tell them apart

A storm system known as a Mesoscale Convective Vortex (MCV) is developing stateside over Michigan on Tuesday. These are long-lived storms that act independently as their own system, tightly swirling around a center of low pressure.

The northern tip of this system is expected to reach into southwestern Ontario Tuesday afternoon, while the worst of it could stay stateside.

DON’T MISS: Database from Environment Canada archives offers new twist on storm chasing

Damaging winds of over 100 km/h are possible, as well as 2 cm hailstones and up to over 50 mm of rainfall.

Some of these storms could also have embedded rotation, making the tornadic threat non-zero. However, despite high atmospheric humidity, the overall thunderstorm energy present is low, which will be a limiting factor in any tornadic development.

Power outages, wind damage, and localized flooding will also be major risks to look out for throughout the region, including Sarnia, Windsor, and London.

By the time evening rolls around, conditions should improve. Folks in Toronto could see heavy rainfall around dinner time.

Stay with The Weather Network for more forecast information and updates on your weather across Ontario.