Record weekend rainfall in Waterloo Region; flooding in GTA

Heavy rainfall warnings from Environment Canada were in effect for most of the weekend across Waterloo Region and parts of the GTA, with more than 100 millimetres of precipitation in some places.

Here in Waterloo Region, nearly 40 mm of rain was recorded at the Region of Waterloo International Airport over Saturday and Sunday.

Both days saw record breaking rainfall for those individual dates. The most notable record broken was on Sunday, where 22.9 mm of rain fell. The most rain to have been recorded on an Aug. 18 in the past, was 17 mm back in 2008, according to Environment Canada.

Parts of the Greater Toronto Area saw severe flooding.

Flooding once again stranded several vehicles on the Highway 410 southbound off-ramp to Highway 401 but according to Mississauga Fire, all occupants were safely rescued.

Firefighters are on-scene removing occupants from 5 stranded cars on Hwy 410 N/B. Once people were assisted to safety by our water rescue team, firefighters went to work clearing the catch basins to help the water slowly recede. MTO now on scene to take over the task. pic.twitter.com/rWqvrL4axy

— Mississauga Fire (@MississaugaFES) August 18, 2024

Pearson International Airport reported that Convair Drive was closed from Renforth Road to Britannia Road East, also due to flooding.

In Toronto, the national weather service said the ground had little ability to absorb further rainfall after torrential downpours drenched the city on Saturday. Another 15 to 30 millimetres was forecast by Sunday evening.

Saturday’s downpour dumped 128.3 millimetres of rain at Toronto Pearson Airport. That topped the 2013 record of 126 millimetres recorded at the airport, which could be the city’s rainiest summer ever.

“It’s fair to say that this has been a record-breaking season,” said Environment Canada meteorologist Trudy Kidd.

The previous record for summer rainfall stood at 396.2 millimetres, but Kidd said the airport has already seen 475.7 millimetres this season.

Saturday’s storm caused widespread flooding and created dangerous conditions for motorists, particularly in Mississauga, Etobicoke and North York. There were no reports of physical injuries, but raging waters had some drivers trapped and forced to call on rescue crews for assistance.

Earlier in the day, a tornado touched down in the southwestern Ontario community of Ayr. There were no reports of injuries, but crews responded to reports of property damage and scattered trees and power lines.