The Victoria Day long weekend ended Monday with tornado and severe thunderstorm warnings for parts of Eastern Ontario.
Sharbot Lake, Lanark County, Smiths Falls, Perth were under the warning issued at 4:51 p.m. as a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was moving eastward across Lanark County.
Environment Canada expanded the tornado warning at 5:28 p.m. to include Bancroft, Hastings Highlands, Kaladar, Bannockburn and Bon Echo Park. But by early Monday evening, the warnings had been downgraded to a severe thunderstorm watch.
Lanark County and Ottawa remained under a severe thunderstorm watch Monday evening as several bands of heavy showers moved through the area.
As the storm cell moved east, a severe thunderstorm warning also issued for Upper Gatineau, Lièvre River area, Wakefield, Papineau, Papineauville and Chénéville, and a thunderstorm watch was issued for the City of Gatineau.
Environment Canada warned that conditions were favourable for severe thunderstorms with strong wind gusts, which can toss loose objects, damage weak buildings, break branches off trees and overturn large vehicles.
Locally heavy rain, hail or even a tornado were also possible, Environment Canada said.
The stormy weather was expected to end by Tuesday when a mix of sun and cloud and a high of 26 C was expected.
