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HUNTSVILLE - Readers are reporting extreme weather conditions within Algonquin Park.
Pictures of damaged buildings and reports of downpours are also being sent from within the park. Businesses within the area say they are experiencing heavy rain.
Meanwhile a severe thunderstorm watch is in place for Huntsville and Baysville. According to Environment Canada conditions are favourable for the development of dangerous thunderstorms that may be capable of producing strong wind gusts, large hail and torrential rain.
Fast moving water across a road can sweep a vehicle away. Rapidly rising rivers and creeks can sweep away bridges, culverts, buildings, and people. Large hail can damage property and cause injury. Strong wind gusts can toss loose objects, damage weak buildings, break branches off trees and overturn large vehicles.
Remember, severe thunderstorms can produce tornadoes. Be prepared for severe weather. Take cover immediately, if threatening weather approaches. Stay indoors when a thunderstorm strikes. There isn't a place outside that is safe during a thunderstorm. Stay away from all windows, skylights and doors. Lightning kills and injures Canadians every year. Remember, when thunder roars, go indoors.
The Office of the Fire Marshal and Emergency Management recommends that you take cover immediately, if threatening weather approaches.
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Thanks to Kirk MacDonald (CANWARN severe weather spotter) for his postings on Twitter, showing the hangar on Smoke Lake at Highway 60 ...
Here are some downsized images from his postings ...
And the official park website reports ... ...
Mizzy Lake Trail Closed - Thunderstorm Damage/Fallen TreesThe Mizzy Lake Trail at km 15.4 of Highway 60 is closed until further notice as the result of thunderstorm damage that occurred on the afternoon of August 18, 2015. Park staff are working to ensure public safety and assessing the damage from fallen trees.
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Geez. That's some fairly intense damage... Glad everyone is okay..
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I just looked again at Kirk's original Twitter photos and noticed that the hangar's "wind-sock" is still intact on its pole and that power lines infront of damaged trees appear to still be intact. It's amazing how precisely 'narrow' the zone of damage was!
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Thanks, Barry, for posting the twitter pics. I was having a heck of a time trying to figure out how to do that.
I read somewhere else that it is thought that perhaps it was a microburst that did a lot of the damage.
Barbara
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FYI the Mizzy Lake Trail is already re-opened, per the park advisories map.
Now here's the question, for a figurative silver lining on a literal cloud... For some time now there have been (and as of right now still are) low water advisories for rivers and ponds all over the west side and highway corridor. Do we think paddling conditions will improve now that there's been a heavy rain (with a little more rain possible in the next couple of days), or does that require a longer-term change in the weather?
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Crazy weather!
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