Storm cleanup happening during expected peak of heat wave

Storm cleanup happening during expected peak of heat wave

About 38,000 customers without power in Ottawa-Gatineau area

The Ottawa-Gatineau area is cleaning up from massive, powerful thunderstorms that struck the afternoon and evening of Canada Day.

The damage, including flooding, happened during a long-lasting, punishing heat wave and cancelled Ottawa's part of national holiday celebrations.

Rainfall totals from Wednesday are not available from Environment Canada. Ottawa's international airport weather station had reported 99 millimetres of rain in fewer than four hours as of 5:45 p.m.

About 38,000 local customers didn't have power as of around 7:30 a.m. Thursday. The hardest-hit areas include Vallée-de-la-Gatineau, Tweed, Vanier and Winchester.

Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe said Thursday morning there had been an "extraordinary" number of 311 requests for city service because of the weather and asked people to file reports online if possible.

There are currently no widespread road closures because of flooding.

The outages come during a heat warning that's expected to peak Thursday with humidity making it feel like the 40s in many areas. The dangerously hot weather is expected to last into the weekend in much of eastern Ontario, including Ottawa, Kingston and Cornwall.