Destructive Ontario storms underscored gaps in severe weather preparedness: expert

Destructive thunderstorms swept through southern Ontario on Wednesday and Thursday, leaving thousands without power and causing widespread damage. High winds felled trees, toppled power lines, and tore down roofs, while torrential rain dumped over 100 millimeters of rain in some areas. The storms prompted comparisons to "100-year storms," according to flood risk expert Jason Thistlethwaite, who noted that such extreme weather events are happening far more frequently due to climate change.

The storms caused significant destruction in Toronto and the surrounding area, with the city's Rogers Stadium sustaining extensive damage from high winds and partially collapsed grandstands. Toronto Hydro reported that over 2,000 customers were still without power on Wednesday, and Hydro One said roughly 10,000 customers in southwestern Ontario were affected after consecutive storms rolled through the region.

Toronto fire officials responded to nearly 1,500 calls in a single day, the second-highest volume in a 24-hour period since the 2013 ice storm.

The repeated flooding across the province highlights long-standing gaps in how governments prepare for extreme weather, Thistlethwaite said. Climate change is making storms more intense and frequent, and officials need to better disclose flood-risk information to homeowners and focus investments on vulnerable neighborhoods. Despite federal efforts to develop public flood risk maps, they have yet to be released, leaving many communities vulnerable.

While some infrastructure, like Toronto's Don Valley Parkway, will likely continue to flood during major storms, targeted investments could reduce the risk of costly damage to homes and businesses. In some cases, government buyout programs may be necessary to protect high-risk properties. Thistlethwaite acknowledged that local officials often face criticism after major floods but expressed sympathy for municipalities that have flood mitigation plans but lack the financial resources or political support to implement them.

He cited Toronto's $3-billion stormwater sewer upgrades along the Don River as an example of the significant investments needed to adapt to a changing climate.