A severe storm swept across the Greater Toronto Area on Wednesday afternoon, causing widespread power outages and flooding in the region. The storms brought torrential rain, large hail, and a risk of tornadoes to southern Ontario, affecting approximately 65,000 customers who lost power. Rogers Stadium sustained significant damage, with no reported injuries, while multiple reports of fallen trees, downed power lines, and flooded streets were also recorded. The storm caused numerous flight delays at Toronto's Pearson airport and prompted the postponement of a concert at the RBC Amphitheatre.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-03,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
September 3, a destructive storm swept across the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), causing widespread damage and power outages. The storm dumped over 100 mm of rain in some areas, knocking down trees, utility lines, and leaving tens of thousands without power. Toronto Hydro reported that about 65,000 customers lost power at the storm's peak, but this number has since decreased to around 6,000. Hydro One, a provincial power supplier, reported over 47,000 customers remain offline outside of Toronto. The city's roads were severely affected, with several major routes closed, including the Gardiner Expressway and Bayview Avenue. Toronto Fire Services responded to an unprecedented 1,500 calls in a 24-hour period, second only to the 2013 ice storm. The city's officials have promised to work tirelessly until every road is clear and every resident has power back.
Written for “Storms Hit Southern Ontario” on 2026-09-03,
grounded in this article and the 3 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
This article does not take a side on a contested political
question, so it has no leaning score. That is an
answer rather than a gap: a match report or a rescue can be warmly
or critically written without being left or right, and scoring it
anyway is how approval of a subject gets recorded as a political
position.
No political leaning scored for article 3433 · logged 2026-09-03
Severe storms cut across the Greater Toronto Area late Wednesday afternoon, causing widespread power outages, localized flooding and serious damage to a major concert venue as an intense weather system brought torrential rain, large hail and the risk of a tornado to wide swaths of southern Ontario.
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system → cut → Ontario
The weather office issued multiple emergency alerts for extreme weather in parts of the GTA as skies darkened to almost nighttime levels over the city’s downtown and hail pummelled neighbourhoods further north.
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hail → issue → neighbourhoods
Rogers Stadium, a 50,000-capacity music venue in the city’s north end, sustained “significant damage” in the storm, Live Nation Canada said in a statement.
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Canada → sustain → statement
“Fortunately, no one was injured during today’s extreme weather event,” the venue operator said late Wednesday.
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operator → injure → event
“We are currently assessing the extent of the damage.”
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We → assess → damage
Video footage circulating on social media shows collapsed framing and torn off coverings on stadium grounds.
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footage → circulate → grounds
Severe storms cut across Ontario, causing flooding and power outages in the Toronto area.
The Canadian Press
Subway service was suspended on a stretch of one of Toronto’s main lines during the afternoon and evening rush hours due to flooding, as police responded to multiple reports of fallen trees and downed power lines across the city.
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police → cut → city
The sound of emergency alerts rang out inside Toronto subway train cars held up by flooding at multiple stations.
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sound → ring → stations
Under one overpass in the downtown core, at least two partially submerged vehicles were abandoned in the floodwater Wednesday evening as police cordoned off the area.
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police → abandon → area
Toronto police also issued a hazard alert on social media about flooding on the Don Valley Parkway, a major city artery.
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police → issue → Parkway
Long stretches of Yonge Street in midtown Toronto were flooded, with waves breaking over curbs and covering sidewalks in inches of water.
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waves → flood → water
Toronto Hydro said approximately 65,000 customers were without power as of Wednesday evening.
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customers → say → evening
“We are responding to reported hazards, including downed power lines and damaged electrical equipment, while co-ordinating restoration efforts across the city,” the utility said in a social media post.
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utility → respond → post
“Given the scale of the storm and the number of outages, restoration efforts may take time and vary by location,” it said.
uncertain
it → give → location
The storm caused numerous flight delays at Toronto’s Pearson airport.
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storm → cause → airport
“Passengers are encouraged to check their flight status directly with their airline before travelling to the airport,” it said in a post on X.
The Salt-N-Pepa concert at the outdoor RBC Amphitheatre in Toronto was also postponed due to severe weather.
Videos from across the region shared on social media showed large hail pummelling cars in parking lots, flooding transit stations and sending people running for cover.
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hail → encourage → cover
A severe weather alert stretched from near Sarnia east to Peterborough and north to Barrie, with areas such as Windsor and parts of cottage country under a yellow watch earlier in the day.
Environment Canada said hard-hit areas could see torrential downpours, ping pong-sized hail and wind gusts up to 110 kilometres an hour.
uncertain
areas → stretch → kilometres
The primary concern was the possibility for damaging winds and torrential rains.
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concern → damage → winds
The storm came after parts of Ontario were lit up with lightning strikes and inundated by heavy rains by passing storms Wednesday morning.
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parts → come → storms
