Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Toronto recovering from sudden, severe flood

CTV News (Canada): Toronto awoke to a soggy morning Tuesday after a record-smashing rainfall soaked the city, leaving stranded cars, flooded basements and widespread power outages in the city. Pearson International Airport reported 126 mm of rain throughout Monday, breaking the previous single-day rainfall record for the city set back on Oct. 15, 1954, when hurricane Hazel dumped 121 mm of rain.

"We had 90 millimetres of rain within an hour and a half at the airport," said Peter Kimbell, a meteorologist at Environment Canada, who said the storm ranked among the most intense rainfalls the city has ever seen.

Downtown Toronto reported slightly less -- 97 mm of rain for the day, according to the weather agency. "It was a bit of a surprise yesterday," said Kimbell. "The (Environment Canada) warning was actually not issued until the storm had begun."

Utility crews were still at work Tuesday morning trying to restore electricity to thousands of customers left in the dark by flood-related blackouts.

Toronto Hydro said about 35,000 of its customers remained without power early Tuesday, mainly in the city's west end. The utility said it was awaiting supply from Hydro One and that it could be as late as mid-morning before all of its customers had their electricity restored.

...The flooding also caused a full closure of the city's north-sound Don Valley Parkway on Monday evening, but both northbound and southbound lanes were re-opened in time for the morning rush hour. The downpour left several roads and underpasses flooded and a number of people trapped in vehicles -- some with water up to their vehicle windows....

Wrong year, wrong season. The flooded Don River, as seen from south of the Bloor Viaduct. Toronto, Ontario, Canada, in February 1919. Nice photo, though

No comments: