A tornado warning and powerful storm system swept through Norfolk County Tuesday night, bringing heavy rain, strong winds and widespread power outages to several communities.
Environment Canada issued the tornado warning quickly as severe weather moved into the region, with emergency alerts sent directly to residents’ phones advising people to take shelter immediately, preferably in basements or interior rooms away from windows.
The storm produced intense downpours and damaging wind gusts as it moved across the county. While no confirmed tornado touchdown has been reported locally, tornadoes were reported in other parts of southern Ontario, including areas near London and Woodstock.
Residents across Norfolk County reported fallen tree branches, debris blocking roads and downed power lines as the storm passed through.
As of Wednesday morning, hydro crews continued working to restore electricity to several areas still experiencing outages. The largest outages were reported in and around Delhi and La Salette, though scattered outages also stretched between Waterford and Port Rowan.
Emergency crews responded to multiple calls related to storm damage overnight.
Officials are reminding residents to stay clear of downed power lines and use caution around damaged trees and debris cleanup areas. Residents are also encouraged to monitor local weather updates as cleanup efforts continue.
