Ottawa residents are drying out flooded basements and waiting for power to come back after a severe thunderstorm dropped a record-breaking 118 mm of rain on the city on Canada Day.
Environment Canada said a few thunderstorms moved through the region over about four hours Wednesday afternoon, with the 118 mm total recorded at the Ottawa airport. The previous July 1 rainfall record at the airport was 58.9 mm, set in 1959.
The federal government cancelled the evening portion of its national Canada Day ceremony at LeBreton Flats Park, including the fireworks, as the storm rolled through.
‘One of the worst flooding events in 25 years’
Mayor Mark Sutcliffe said the storm turned a day of celebration into a difficult one for thousands of residents.
It happened quickly, it affected communities and homes across our city, it turned a day of celebration into a very difficult and challenging situation for thousands of residents. — Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, at a news conference Wednesday
Sutcliffe said rainfall was likely higher in some parts of the city than the airport reading, and he believes the storm was one of the worst flooding events Ottawa has seen in the last 25 years.
The city has received more than 1,900 service requests for flooded basements through 311, the mayor said. He urged residents to report flooding or property damage through the online 311 portal using their MonServiceOttawa account, because of long wait times on the phone line due to an exceptional volume of calls.
Waste collection restrictions in certain neighbourhoods have also been suspended for the next week at the mayor’s request.
Roads closed, wires down, thousands without power
Ottawa Police reported flooding on roads Wednesday afternoon and evening, including closures of parts of Highway 417. Most highway closures have since ended, but Scott Street between Hinchey Avenue and Stirling Avenue and Moodie Drive south of Carling Avenue remained closed as of Thursday morning, according to Global News.
Coun. Laura Dudas said in a Facebook post that the storm downed tree branches in several neighbourhoods, and asked residents to call 311 if they see a tree or branch posing immediate danger.
Hydro Ottawa said about 5,300 customers were still without power as of Thursday afternoon, with several outages under investigation and no restoration time yet known. The mayor said about half of those homes should have power back by the end of the day.
Hydro Ottawa warned residents to stay 10 metres away from downed lines and avoid flooded basements, and to call the utility to disconnect power safely if water has risen above electrical outlets, baseboard heaters or an electrical panel.
Sutcliffe said Ottawa Fire Services responded to 700 calls about downed wires and electrical hazards in flooded basements. He credited a quick response to city departments already being in enhanced operations for Canada Day.
More storms possible
Environment Canada meteorologist Kate Leclerc said the rain began around 2 p.m., grew heavier around 3 p.m., and had mostly ended by about 7 p.m., with winds around 70 km/h.
That’s how thunderstorms tend to happen, it can be very fast, it can change very rapidly and that’s exactly what happened in the Ottawa area. — Kate Leclerc, Environment Canada meteorologist, told Global News
The agency has Ottawa under another severe thunderstorm watch Thursday afternoon, warning of wind gusts near 100 km/h, rainfall that could exceed 40 mm, ping-pong-ball-sized hail and a risk of tornadoes.
