‘A brief tornado cannot be ruled out’: Severe thunderstorm watch issued for London region

Julie Atchison has the latest forecast for the region

Strong nocturnal storms are possible for much of southwestern Ontario overnight with Environment Canada issuing a severe thunderstorm watch for the region.

According to Environment Canada, conditions are favourable for the development of severe thunderstorms that may be capable of producing strong wind gusts of 90 to 100 km/h.

A line of thunderstorms is moving eastward from lower Michigan, and while the main threat will be “damaging” wind gusts, Environment Canada warns “a brief tornado cannot be ruled out.”

The storms are expected to push through the region late Thursday and overnight into Friday.

“Although the line is expected to weaken as it approaches the international border, its eventual strength remains uncertain,” the weather authority said.

As of 11:30 p.m., much of the region finds itself under the watch stretching as far west as Windsor-Essex up to Sarnia and Goderich, and as far east as the London area.

Local utility outages are possible, as is damage to roofs, fences, branches or soft shelters.