Montreal area under severe thunderstorm watch with risk of tornado

Environment Canada on Tuesday issued a severe thunderstorm watch for the Montreal area, an alert that also warns of the possibility of a tornado.

The yellow watch, issued at 5:12 a.m., notes that beginning Tuesday afternoon and evening, “conditions will be favourable for the development of severe thunderstorms capable of producing strong wind gusts, large hail and heavy rain. There is also a risk of a tornado.”

The agency also warns that nautical activities may be hazardous due to sudden, severe wind gusts over bodies of water.

The Weather Network reported that a heat dome is generating a “ring of fire” pattern, creating enhanced conditions for high-impact severe weather in the Montreal area, St. Lawrence Valley, Gaspé Peninsula, southern and eastern Quebec and parts of eastern Ontario, including Ottawa, and northern New Brunswick.

As of 7 a.m., the Environment Canada forecast for the Montreal area called for a mix of sun and cloud with a 40 per cent chance of showers late in the afternoon, wind becoming southwest 30 km/h gusting to 50 km/h and the risk of a severe thunderstorm. The forecast high is 33 degrees Celsius with a humidex value of 42 and a UV index of 9 (very high). The overnight low will be 20.