Thousands of people remain without power across Norfolk County this morning after a powerful storm moved through the region on Wednesday.
Strong winds, heavy rain and thunderstorms swept across Ontario, with Norfolk County placed under a Severe Thunderstorm Warning. Nearby Tillsonburg was among the communities placed under a Tornado Warning as the storm system moved through the area.
Hydro One continues to work on restoring power, with the largest concentration of outages currently reported in the Simcoe area.
The storm also left behind damage across the county. A photo shared with 98.9 myFM showed a hydro pole knocked over and leaning against power lines on Victoria Street in Simcoe, along with a large branch blocking the roadway.
The damage is creating potential hazards for drivers this morning, and motorists are being encouraged to leave extra time for their commute and be prepared to take an alternate route if roads are blocked.
Drivers may also encounter traffic lights that are flashing yellow or are completely out. Those intersections should be treated as four-way stops.
Motorists are also reminded not to drive around road-closed signs and to follow any detours or instructions from emergency crews.
The unsettled weather may not be over yet, with Environment Canada forecasting a risk of thunderstorms in the area today and tomorrow.
Residents should continue to monitor local weather conditions and be prepared for the possibility of additional storms.
