Toronto Hit by '100-Year Storm'—Massive Flooding and Power Outages
A severe thunderstorm ravaged Toronto and southern Ontario on September 2, bringing torrential rain, damaging winds, and hail that flooded major roads, knocked out power for tens of thousands, and damaged the Rogers Stadium concert venue.
What Happened
A cold front combined with hot and humid air made conditions ripe for what the city has described as a "100-year storm," which brought intense periods of heavy rain, destructive winds, and hail to Canada's largest city, knocking out power and flooding major highways across Toronto, including the Don Valley Parkway. At least 45,000 customers were without electricity as of 8pm on Wednesday, though roughly 90 per cent of homes had had their power restored by Thursday, and the Don Valley Parkway has reopened.
The Damage
The storm caused widespread infrastructure damage across the Greater Toronto Area:
- Rogers Stadium, a 50,000-capacity music venue in the city's north end, sustained "significant damage" in the storm
- Long stretches of Yonge Street in midtown Toronto were also flooded, with waves breaking over curbs and covering sidewalks in inches of water
- Michael Garron Hospital reported flooding in its emergency department but said the facility remained operational
- The storm caused numerous flight delays and cancellations at Toronto's Pearson airport, and the Salt-N-Pepa concert at the outdoor RBC Amphitheatre in Toronto was postponed due to severe weather
If you're planning to be in the Toronto area in the coming days, check road and transit conditions before traveling—some routes remain affected by debris and water damage. Newcomers should note that extreme weather events like this are relatively rare in Canada, but the city has robust emergency services and power restoration infrastructure.
Sources
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