Spring storm brings heavy rain, localized flooding to parts of southern Ontario

By Canadian Press on April 3, 2025.

Wet and stormy weather hit southern Ontario early this morning, causing localized flooding in some areas.

Around the Greater Toronto Area, overnight thunderstorms dumped as much as 75 millimetres of rain in some areas, but Environment Canada ended most rainfall warnings this morning.

The agency has also issued a fog advisory for parts of the region, which could have “near zero visibility in dense fog,” as well as a special weather statement warning of strong wind gusts into the afternoon.

Provincial police are asking drivers to use caution as flooding has been reported on highways throughout the Greater Toronto Area, and Peel Region police say some roads near Highway 407 in Brampton and Mississauga have been closed due to flooding.

The Toronto and Region Conservation Authority is also cautioning the public about possible localized ponding and rising water levels due to rainfall as well as melting snow and ice.

Power outages in other parts of Ontario still persist, with Hydro One reporting more than 195,000 homes and businesses in the dark since last weekend’s ice storm that hit cities such as Orillia and Peterborough especially hard.

The utility says crews are working tirelessly to get power back up for many of those customers.

Much of Quebec is under a freezing rain warning, with a chance of two to four millimetres of ice buildup possible.

Further east, in the Baie-Comeau area, a snowfall warning is in effect, with up to 20 centimetres of the white stuff expected.

Hydro-Quebec is reporting that roughly 3,600 customers are without power Thursday morning.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 3, 2025.

The Canadian Press