Environment Canada lifts weather alerts caused by 'extremely dangerous' thunderstorm in Toronto

Environment Canada lifts weather alerts caused by 'extremely dangerous' thunderstorm in Toronto

Severe thunderstorm damages buildings, closes roads in Toronto area

If you're just getting up to speed, here's what you need to know about Wednesday's extreme weather and how it's affecting travel and beyond:

The City of Vaughan just put out another update, listing general areas of the city to avoid due to the effects of this evening's downpour:

"Crews and first responders will be working throughout the night to address the aftermath of this storm, including downed trees and branches," the city said.

Another update is expected tomorrow at 10 a.m.

We have been getting some intense flooding video and photos from Vaughan, directly north of Toronto, where the storm has caused numerous road closures and transit detours.

The City of Vaughan has an alert up on its website notifying residents that crews are working to "clean up as quickly as possible."

York Region has also warned of "severe flooding" in the city.

"Power outages have affected several traffic signals and flooding has led to temporary closures," the region said in a post to X.

There are emergency road closures at Highway 7 and Bowes Road. Numerous stops along York Region Transit's No. 20 bus route are on detour.

You can check the latest transit alerts on the transit agency's X page.

Anyone hoping to wait out the storm and take the Don Valley Parkway home might be in for a bit of a reckoning.

We just got an update from the city that the DVP closure has grown, and the road is now shut in both directions between Bloor Street and the Jarvis Street exit of the Gardiner Expressway.

While the alerts for the GTA have been lifted, the impact of the thunderstorm that pummelled the region is still being felt.

Michael Garron Hospital, located in the city's East York community, just reported its emergency department has been affected by flooding.

"If you're experiencing a potentially life-threatening issue, please note that our ED remains open and operational," the hospital said on its website.

But it also urged anyone experiencing a non-life-threatening health issue to consider "other care options" in the area.

We just got an update from Toronto Hydro on the effort to restore power across the city.

Spokesperson Brie Davis said around 45,000 customers remain in the dark.

"We have added additional resources to support customers as we experience high call volumes and remain committed to supporting those impacted by the storm and keeping customers informed throughout the restoration effort," she said in an emailed update.

Along with the closure of one of the city's main arteries, the Don Valley Parkway, between Bloor Street and the Gardiner Expressway, these roads have also been closed:

You can find a full list of road closures here.

York police are now warning the public of "severe flooding" in Vaughan.

In a post to X, police said the intersection of Jane Street and Highway 7 is fully submerged.

"Please avoid the area. Do not attempt to drive through flooded roads," the post said.

There are no more weather alerts in place for the GTA.

The deluge may be over for the area, according to the weather agency, but there are still 21 yellow weather alerts in the province. Most of them are related to heat or severe thunderstorm weather.

You can find the latest alerts here.

The Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) has also closed early tonight and cancelled all performances that were set to take place at the Bell Soundstage due to the severe weather.

The grounds were set to close at 7 p.m. and buildings at 8 p.m., says an update on the CNE website.

Event staff and security are helping escort those still there off the site, the update says.