Environment Canada has issued tornado watches for western Quebec and communities west of Ottawa including Pembroke, Bancroft and Barry’s Bay. The watches are in effect Thursday afternoon and evening.
The watch for western Quebec cites a “high risk” of a tornado late in the afternoon and this evening. It technically excludes Gatineau, which often mirrors Ottawa’s alerts.
In areas west of Ottawa, conditions are favourable for severe thunderstorms that may produce a tornado in the afternoon and early evening.
Each watch was last updated around 9:45 a.m.
Tornado watches mean conditions are favourable for possible tornadoes, while tornado warnings mean a tornado has been reported or there’s good evidence one is imminent.
Advice in the case of a tornado includes staying away from exterior walls and windows, ideally in a basement or on the ground floor, and getting out of vehicles.
Forecasters say the storm could also bring heavy winds gusting over 100 km/h, heavy rain and large hail.
The forecast also includes risk of a thunderstorm, but no alerts for local communities including Ottawa-Gatineau, Hawkesbury, Cornwall and Kingston.