Environment Canada is forecasting severe thunderstorms Thursday afternoon and evening that could produce the risk of a tornado.
A yellow level severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for Sarnia-Lambton, Chatham Kent, Windsor-Essex, Huron, Perth, southern Bruce, northern Wellington, and Middlesex Counties.
Shortly before 3 p.m., Chatham-Kent saw a severe thunderstorm warning added to the thunderstorm watch from earlier in the day.
At the time, meteorologists predicted that Stoney Point/Pointe-aux-Roches, Pain Court, North Buxton, Oriole Parkway, and Chatham lay in the path of a thunderstorm travelling at about 40 km/h.
The watch was upgraded to a warning in Sarnia, just before 3:30 p.m. and for the remainder of Lambton County at around 4:10 p.m.
A red level tornado warning was issued for Sarnia-Lambton at around 4:25 p.m.
Environment Canada said meteorologists were tracking a severe thunderstorm that was possibly producing a tornado. Damaging winds, large hail and locally intense rainfall are also possible.
They called it a very dangerous and potentially life-threatening situation.
The tornado warning was lifted for the City of Sarnia at around 4:45 p.m., and replaced with a severe thunderstorm warning about 20 minutes later.
The tornado warning was downgraded to a severe thunderstorm warning for the rest of Lambton County just before 5:30 p.m. Severe weather was still moving through the region at 8 p.m. on Thursday.
The national weather agency said we could see wind gusts up to 90 km/h and up to toonie size hail. It advises that local utility outages are also possible.
Environment Canada is urging us to be prepared for severe weather.
It said if threatening weather approaches, take cover in a basement or interior room. If outside, protect yourself from flying debris and hail and secure loose objects.
We're reminded to monitor for alerts and weather updates.
