Downed trees, golf ball-sized hail: Powerful storm hits Ottawa
Tornado watch still in effect for Ottawa as of 3 p.m.
The most powerful storm of the summer season gave much of Ottawa a rude awakening Tuesday morning, as golf ball-sized hail and intense wind gusts rolled through the National Capital Region.
A tornado watch issued by Environment Canada at 9:22 a.m. was still in effect for Ottawa as of 3 p.m. Tuesday. The tornado watch also stretches from Renfrew and Prescott-Russell to Brockville.
The weather agency is warning residents isolated tornadoes are possible and that "this is a dangerous and potentially life-threatening situation."
Here's a look at how the storm was captured by residents on social media.
The storm took a toll in and around the Ottawa Airport. The Airport Parkway was littered with debris from downed trees, prompting Ottawa police to temporarily close the roadway to drivers.
.<a href="https://twitter.com/CBCOttawa">@CBCOttawa</a> The view from gate 20 at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/YOW?src=hash">#YOW</a>. The airport power goes out part way through. <a href="https://t.co/Fg53JsLghn">pic.twitter.com/Fg53JsLghn</a>
—@eliabbTorrential downpours also caught some tourists on Parliament Hill off guard.
La pluie est si forte que les gardes du Parlement ont laissé entrer les touristes par la porte du centre <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/polcan?src=hash">#polcan</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ottawa?src=hash">#ottawa</a> <a href="https://t.co/XqMItsGJWL">pic.twitter.com/XqMItsGJWL</a>
—@pvfoisyCheck out the size of that hail.
Wow! Hail pic from Bank St. Courtesy <a href="https://twitter.com/bassima2003">@Bassima2003</a> <a href="https://t.co/kaed72OfoK">pic.twitter.com/kaed72OfoK</a>
—@BlacksWeatherThe <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/hail?src=hash">#hail</a> in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ottawa?src=hash">#ottawa</a> woke me up this morning. Street looked like a river. So intense, and over in 10 mins. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ottnews?src=hash">#ottnews</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/nepean?src=hash">#nepean</a> <a href="https://t.co/sEqoF7yEXU">pic.twitter.com/sEqoF7yEXU</a>
—@smf7eCrazy storm... <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/hail?src=hash">#hail</a> in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Nepean?src=hash">#Nepean</a>. <a href="https://twitter.com/BlacksWeather">@BlacksWeather</a> <a href="https://t.co/0vM3SRHzd5">pic.twitter.com/0vM3SRHzd5</a>
—@___JillyBean___The rain was also quite heavy at times.
<a href="https://twitter.com/BlacksWeather">@BlacksWeather</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CBCOttawa">@CBCOttawa</a> ITS THE APOCALYPSE lol <a href="https://t.co/2iNWZLdVle">pic.twitter.com/2iNWZLdVle</a>
—@CodyACardinalA little pause from motorcycle training <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ottweather?src=hash">#ottweather</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/apocalypse?src=hash">#apocalypse</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/posteclipseevents?src=hash">#posteclipseevents</a> <a href="https://t.co/OlzudMDWlG">pic.twitter.com/OlzudMDWlG</a>
—@TheBeardedCopWhat a crazy storm! Roads like rivers in Hull! <a href="https://twitter.com/BlacksWeather">@BlacksWeather</a> <a href="https://t.co/EjLntY0lUa">pic.twitter.com/EjLntY0lUa</a>
—@kvallevandThe Hull sector of Gatineau was also hit hard by the storm.
85k winds <a href="https://twitter.com/BlacksWeather">@BlacksWeather</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Eddystreet?src=hash">#Eddystreet</a> <a href="https://t.co/wPEJjNGbqe">pic.twitter.com/wPEJjNGbqe</a>
—@ottawadeafgirlOttawa firefighters said they were busy with the wacky weather Tuesday after a house was hit by lightning and three hydro poles caught fire.
.<a href="https://twitter.com/OttFire">@OttFire</a> says so far today the storm has caused 3 hydro pole fires, lightning strikes to a tree & house and an elevator rescue.
—@amkfoote