Environment Canada issued a watch on Wednesday morning due to “favourable” conditions for the development of severe thunderstorms.
The nation’s capital and the surrounding area could see strong wind gusts, large hail and heavy rain. Wind could be as strong as 110 km/h and Nickle to golf ball-sized hail is possible.
“The main threats will be strong winds, torrential downpours and hail,” the watch says. “There is also a risk of a tornado today, especially towards the Ottawa River Valley.”
Torrential downpours with 50 mm falling within an hour could happen.
The storm system, which has forced weather alerts across the southern half of the province, is predicted to be in Ottawa late Wednesday morning through to the evening.
“Severe thunderstorm watches are issued when atmospheric conditions are favourable for the development of thunderstorms that could produce one or more of the following: large hail, damaging winds, torrential rainfall,” Environment Canada says.