Tornado risk, severe thunderstorm watch issued for southern Ontario [Video]

Dangerous thunderstorms are possible across southern Ontario Tuesday.

Environment Canada has issued a thunderstorm watch for a large area of the southern Ontario including Durham Region east to Ottawa and Cornwall, and areas north of the GTA including Barrie, Orillia and cottage country.

Toronto, Mississauga, Halton Region and Niagara are not part of the watch but could still see stormy weather.

A cold front moving through Ontario is expected to trigger severe thunderstorms. The storms could arrive early Tuesday afternoon and continue into the early evening.

Conditions are favourable for the development of “dangerous thunderstorms that may be capable of producing damaging wind gusts and large hail,” Environment Canada said in the watch alert.

Wind gusts to 110 km/h and large hail up to four cm are possible.

There is a risk of a tornado, Environment Canada said.

Large hail can damage property and cause injury. Very strong wind gusts can damage buildings, down trees and blow large …