Just in, Toronto was hammered by historic rainfall Tuesday, as three massive storms dumped nearly 100 millimeters (4 inches) of rain, shattering the city’s daily record set in 1941. The deluge caused widespread flooding, power outages, and stranded drivers on major highways.
Dramatic footage captured the chaos, showing submerged cars, cascading water in Union Station, and even damage to celebrity homes – with rapper Drake posting a video of his flooded mansion.
Over 167,000 residents lost power, according to Toronto Hydro. Flights were disrupted at Billy Bishop Airport, and major highways like the Don Valley Parkway and Ontario Highway 410 were shut down due to flooding. Rescue efforts were underway, with authorities reporting at least 14 people saved, including one person rescued from their car’s roof. Firefighters also responded to numerous calls from people trapped in elevators after power cuts hit the city center.
Reports said that Experts blamed the record rainfall on three storms pummeling Toronto in a row. Meteorologist Dave Phillips explained that the downpour delivered a whopping 25% more rain in just three hours than Toronto typically sees in July.
The Toronto and Region Conservation Authority highlighted areas near water sources like shorelines, rivers, and streams as particularly vulnerable due to the city’s many waterways.
Speaking to Newsmen, Mayor Olivia Chow questioned why the flood-prone Don Valley Parkway wasn’t closed earlier. She reassured residents by mentioning the city’s significant investment in cleanup efforts to prevent similar flooding in the future, likely referencing the costly 2013 storm.
The cause of the flooding was three consecutive storms that dumped a massive amount of rain in a short period. The city is now working on cleanup efforts and is looking to prevent similar flooding in the future.
Toronto in other words is left reeling after historic rainfall caused widespread flooding, power outages, and transportation chaos. The city’s main focus is now on recovery efforts and strategizing to prevent similar disasters in the future, learning from the costly lessons of past floods.
