Clean-up continues after Sunday’s damaging wind storm

The clean-up continues after Sunday's damaging wind storm, which led to widespread power outages and multiple road closures. 

Some customers in Waterloo Region were still in the dark as of Monday morning, but power has since been restored. 

Peter Kimbell is a Warning Preparedness Meteorologist with Environment Canada. 

“At the Region of Waterloo International Airport, 104 km/h wind gusts were recorded around 2:25 p.m. A few hours later at 4:30 p.m., 117 km/h maximum gusts were recorded. Those weren't the sustained winds, but still gusts of 117 km/h was a lot.”

Environment Canada had warned of winds gusting up to 110 km/h as part of the weather system.

“We were thinking the worst gust would be along the lakeshore, particularly like Port Colborne. The low-level jet aloft was a bit stronger than we forecasted, and it mixed down in the squall line that came through, so we got a bit more wind than we expected.”

The biggest issues in Waterloo Region, and across much of southern Ontario, were power outages caused by fallen trees, branches, and other debris.

“There have also been structural damage reports in various areas as well. I've heard about some buildings that had significant roof damage, and damage to farm equipment.”

Kimbell said he's seen a lot of November storms in the past, but Sunday's was certainly uncommon. 

“The maximum wind in November at Waterloo's airport seems to have been 100 km/h – and that was reported in 1998 on November 11.”

Kimbell stressed that doesn't necessarily mean it was an all-time record, as further data revisions would need to be done.

“But regardless, what we experienced yesterday was very high on the scale of wind strength in November.”