'A soaker' of a day as remnants of Hurricane Beryl hit London area
CBC
The remnants of Hurricane Beryl are drenching the London, Ont., area Wednesday, with periods of torrential downpours and thunderstorms possible, Environment Canada says.
The federal weather agency has issued a rainfall warning for much of southern Ontario, including London.
Rain began overnight and up to 80 millimetres are expected for some areas throughout the day, with rainfall rates of 20 to 40 mm per hour at times possible.
"It'll be a soaker for everyone," said Daniel Liota, a meteorologist with Environment Canada. "If you're out and about and driving, be cautious and be on the lookout for standing water on the roads."
Liota said the rain will taper to showers Wednesday night or early Thursday. It will mean wet weather for the hundreds attending London's Rock the Park show at Harris Park along the Thames River.
While the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority is not anticipating major flooding, the park has been known to wash out, including last year at this time.
Rock the Park marketing director Myriah Kay said Wednesday morning the park is being drained and wood chips are being laid down. She also said the weather is supposed to "clear up in a few hours, [to] maybe a light sprinkle."
Hurricane Beryl first made landfall in Grenada before moving deeper into the Caribbean Sea, where it hit Jamaica and eventually Mexico. It then weakened to a tropical storm as it moved over Texas, where it caused tornadoes and flooding.
"We do get remnants of tropical systems in the Great Lakes every now and again. But what is special about an event like this is that it brings a really tropical, moisture-laden air mass and that is what gives us the potential to get these really torrential downpours," Liota said.
The record for rainfall on this day in London is 80 mm, set in 1921, and Liota said it is possible that could be broken Wednesday.