Toronto Flood 2013

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Mon, 2013-07-08 20:40

Kaitlin McNabb Kaitlin McNabb's picture

Toronto Flood 2013

Dramatic photos show parts of Toronto underwater

Massive rain storm hits Toronto causing flooding and power outages

Toronto is in the midst of getting hit by a massive rain storm, with totals reaching as high as 75mm of precipitation (some reports have as much as 90mm fallen at Pearson Airport). A procession of powerful thunderstorms is currently working its way through the GTA, causing localized flooding, power outages, and frowns all round.

Right now, the TTC says the subway system holding in key areas due to a series of signal and flooding issues. There are pockets which remain in use on the YUS line and the Bloor-Danforth line is running between Jane and Kennedy, but much of the system is shut down. There are also widespread reports of flooding at Union Station.

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Mon, 2013-07-08 20:41

Kaitlin McNabb Kaitlin McNabb's picture

Severe thunderstorms cause flooding, blackouts, havoc on roads around GTA

Severe thunderstorms that have caused flooding and power outages around the city Monday will likely exceed 100 mm of total rainfall before it tapers off later this evening, according to Environment Canada.

Meteorologists from Environment Canada are tracking a slow moving cluster of thunderstorms capable of producing localized flash flooding.

What is happening right now?!

Hope all our Toronto babblers are okay!

Mon, 2013-07-08 20:54

Kaitlin McNabb Kaitlin McNabb's picture

there are reports that Mayor Ford's power is out at his house, so he is sitting in his car with his kids with the AC on...

Mon, 2013-07-08 20:57

Kaitlin McNabb Kaitlin McNabb's picture

images via twitter

Mon, 2013-07-08 21:07

Kaitlin McNabb Kaitlin McNabb's picture

Looks like most of the flooding is around airport and Lakeshore area in toronto, Missasauga, and moving east to Brampton and Markham.

All subways closed. Massive power outages.

Don't worry though because Ford is safe and cool in his car (many on twitter calling for him to be impeached for at the very least breaking the 4 minute idle law)

Mon, 2013-07-08 21:10

Kaitlin McNabb Kaitlin McNabb's picture

Mon, 2013-07-08 21:12

Kaitlin McNabb Kaitlin McNabb's picture

Most (if not all?) news outlets are providing information from social media feeds of people in the flood. All pictures here sourced from twitter feeds.

Not much new stuff coming out. Not sure of the emergency response effort yet.

Mon, 2013-07-08 21:13

Kaitlin McNabb Kaitlin McNabb's picture

via twitter: Marine units en route to stuck passengers on Go Train.

Mon, 2013-07-08 21:13

Maysie

Rob Ford's priorities during this time.

Mon, 2013-07-08 21:17

#10

Kaitlin McNabb Kaitlin McNabb's picture

106mm of rain recorded at Pearson Airport. Apparently another 50mm rain at least!

Mon, 2013-07-08 21:18

#11

Kaitlin McNabb Kaitlin McNabb's picture

Following twitter hashtags #TOflood #dwls #TOstorm, some Torontonians were unaware the city was flooding -- only affected by heavy rains.

Mon, 2013-07-08 21:23

#12

Kaitlin McNabb Kaitlin McNabb's picture

all photos sourced from twitter

Mon, 2013-07-08 21:25

#13

Kaitlin McNabb Kaitlin McNabb's picture

BlogTO has good up to the minute coverage and covering all emergency updates from Mayor (cough) and first responders (yay)

Mon, 2013-07-08 21:30

#14

Kaitlin McNabb Kaitlin McNabb's picture

Transit service is back on in some areas ; 300,000+ without power in GTA; all flight seem to be grounded; still steady rain in GTA; " no sign yet of any issues related to the predicted next wave of storms"

Mon, 2013-07-08 21:32

#15

Kaitlin McNabb Kaitlin McNabb's picture

Update about the stranded Go Train from the Toronto Military Unit via TOblog:

The Toronto Police Marine Unit is helping evacuate passengers off that stranded GO train near Pottery Road. Here's what their website has to say:

"Lakeshore West Passengers: A portion of the track west of Long Branch is completely under water, making us unable to operate trains along the Lakeshore West line. We are investigating alternatives and an update will be provided as information becomes available."

"As our trains run from west to east, Lakeshore East Passengers will experience delays and possible cancellations this evening. Updates will be provide as they become available."

"Weather conditions and the resulting traffic delays are affecting our GO Buses this afternoon. GO Buses are experiencing delays of up to 60 minutes."

Mon, 2013-07-08 21:34

#16

Kaitlin McNabb Kaitlin McNabb's picture

Apparently Doug Ford is directly traffic; other people are beginning to scream at each other in the streets according to twitter; seeing lots of tweets to remind everyone that down traffic lights turn into a 4 way stop

Mon, 2013-07-08 21:37

#17

lagatta

Horrors.

So far, nothing but some showers here tomorrow afternoon and showers off-and-on on Wednesday. No severe rain warnings, but of tcourse that can change.

I hope all rabble-rousers/babblers are safe and well and have the essentials of life.

Mon, 2013-07-08 21:37

#18

Kaitlin McNabb Kaitlin McNabb's picture

To put rain levels in perspective, TO got over 100mm today (still counting) the average is 76mm ... for a month.

Mon, 2013-07-08 21:39

#19

Kaitlin McNabb Kaitlin McNabb's picture

Commuters on GO Train being rescued after 4 hours on the train. (image via TOblog)

Mon, 2013-07-08 21:45

#20

Kaitlin McNabb Kaitlin McNabb's picture

power coming back on in some areas; the rain continues; reports of a water snake aboard the GO train (yikes);

Mon, 2013-07-08 21:46

#21

Kaitlin McNabb Kaitlin McNabb's picture

severe thunder storm warnings for areas in red.

Mon, 2013-07-08 21:50

#22

Kaitlin McNabb Kaitlin McNabb's picture

on a lighter note, reports of lots of cozing up on ttc buses to make extra room and maybe create some new love stories; so far seen only a few tweets about first responders, but all positive!

Mon, 2013-07-08 21:55

#23

Kaitlin McNabb Kaitlin McNabb's picture

CEO Andy Byford speaking on CP24 says the TTC will "do its damnedest to get everyone to work tomorrow." Signals and other electrics need to be inspected before subway service can resume. Looks like the ride to work could be rough in the morning.

edit:

no reports of any injury on GO train rescue just lots of frustration.

Mon, 2013-07-08 21:57

#24

Kaitlin McNabb Kaitlin McNabb's picture

The Albatross has a good spread of the most incredible photos during the storm/flood to further contextualize everything.

Mon, 2013-07-08 22:00

#25

Kaitlin McNabb Kaitlin McNabb's picture

Severe Thunderstorm warning ended for Toronto

Mon, 2013-07-08 22:04

#26

Kaitlin McNabb Kaitlin McNabb's picture

"I'm going to be up all night. I can't obviously sleep when I know the storm is going through" -- Mayor Rob Ford (eye roll)

Mon, 2013-07-08 22:23

#27

infracaninophile $infracaninophile's picture$

Yikes. I work in one of the hard-hit areas. This morning I was feeling very sorry for myself, sitting waiting for an x-ray at a Halton clinic (first workday I have not been at work in 6 months), turns out it was my lucky day. I would certainly still be stuck there if I had been there today. Weird.

Oddly, very little rain here, west of Oakville.

Tue, 2013-07-09 12:38

#28

Catchfire

Wow, great photo collection, Kaitlin! I had heard about the heavy rain and then some reports of flooding, but -- wow -- I guess that's pretty serious! Stay dry, T.O.!

And if it's too hot without air conditioning, don't be afraid to jump into your SUV!

Wed, 2013-07-10 10:33

#29

Kaitlin McNabb Kaitlin McNabb's picture

A couple of aftermath articles have surfaced (terrible pun not intended, but, hey, why not):

Soggy Toronto gets good news on weather, subway service but faces further power shortages via The Globe and Mail

The TTC announced Wednesday morning that subways are now running to Islington station. Monday’s record-breaking rainstorm that flooded basements and left, at its worst, 500,000 households in the dark, had previously left the subway line shut down west of Jane. Kipling station, which was flooded after the storm dumped up to 136 millimetres of rain on the city in a few hours, remains closed.

- Those in basement quites caught a bad end of the deal -- one of our rabblers questions what will happen to students living in residential basement suites and the damage to not only their house but their stuff?

- Businesses with storage in their basements received some bad flooding -- rabble friends Type Books had three feet of water in their storage closet with a lot of their back stock ruined.

- the flood received a lot of internation attention. Another rabblers currently abroad said it was "one of the top stories on internation CNN"

- lots still without power in the GTA -- hope all rabble rousers and babblers in the GTA are doing okay!

Wed, 2013-07-10 15:06

#30

Bacchus

Looks all subways working now tho Go still has issues.

Some roads in my neighbourhood still flooded