Tornado risk over in Deep River and Algonquin Park

Rain cascades off the umbrella of a pedestrian in Ottawa in June. Environment Canada has a severe thunderstorm watch in place from Georgian Bay to the Ottawa River. (The Canadian Press/Justin Tang - image credit)
Rain cascades off the umbrella of a pedestrian in Ottawa in June. Environment Canada has a severe thunderstorm watch in place from Georgian Bay to the Ottawa River. (The Canadian Press/Justin Tang - image credit)

Environment Canada ended a severe thunderstorm watch it had issued earlier in the day for Georgian Bay northeast to the Ottawa River on Wednesday afternoon.

The alert included the risk of a tornado, large hail and heavy rain.

The agency first issued the watch at around 12:10 p.m. By 9:40 p.m., the watch was ended.

Earlier in the day, forecasters said the storm could hit the area, which includes western Renfrew County and Algonquin Park, in the afternoon or early evening.

"Despite it being early Autumn, a tornado or two cannot be ruled out," said Environment Canada.

Between 30 to 50 millimetres of rain was expected.

A tornado watch is issued when there's a storm approaching with conditions that could produce a tornado. A warning goes out either when a tornado sighting has been reported or when there's sufficient evidence to suggest a tornado is on the way.

When a tornado forms, people are advised to stay away from exterior walls and windows, ideally going to a basement or the ground floor. They should also get out of vehicles.