A tornado touched down in Ayr, Ont., on Saturday morning following an emergency warning issued by Environment Canada, downing trees and power lines and causing heavy damage to at least one home and business.

The weather agency's meteorologists said they were tracking a severe thunderstorm near Plattsville that could produce a tornado, prompting it to issue an official tornado warning for parts of Waterloo region and surrounding areas.

According to North Dumfries fire Chief Robert Shantz, a tornado touched down around 11 a.m. ET. An official with the Northern Tornadoes Project (NTP) at Western University also said it was a tornado.

Environment Canada hasn't yet confirmed the weather system touched down, but told CBC News there were indications of debris in Ayr on the radar.

Ayr resident Kelly Bebenek said that of the 70 trees on her property, only four remain.

She said the tornado broke two new windows installed in her house on Friday. It also ripped the roof off her daughter's bedroom and water began entering the house.

"I go between laughing and crying," Bebenek said.

Dave Sills, executive director of the Northern Tornadoes Project (NTP) at Western University in London, Ont., also said a tornado hit Ayr. The project investigates tornadoes across the country.

His team arrived on scene from London, Ont., to conduct a damage survey — including assessing the tornado's length, width and strength.

Sills said there have been few strong tornadoes in southern Ontario this year.

"We'll see if this is an exception," he said.

In a news release Saturday afternoon, the Township of North Dumfries said there was a "localized cluster of extensive damage" along Greenfield Road W., between Trussler Road and Northumberland Street.

The release attributes the damage to a significant summer storm, consisting of heavy winds, heavy rainfall and lightning. It does not refer to a tornado.

Many large trees are down on Greenfield Road West, which was closed to traffic, the release said. There were also downed power lines on the road near Northumberland Street.

Cowan Park and the Northumberland Street corridor, close to the Greenfield Road intersection, also sustained extensive damage.

Emergency crews and GrandBridge Energy were on scene, the release said. Hydro was out in the area and was gradually being restored.

"It is anticipated that the power outage in and immediately adjacent [to the] the high impact zone will be out for an extended time period," the township said.

No injuries are being reported from "high impact properties," the release added.

North Dumfries Mayor Sue Foxton asked residents to stay off Northumberland Street. She said a number of cars are driving down the road to see the damage, preventing emergency vehicles from getting through.

"Lets really take care of this situation by allowing people… to do the best job they can as quickly as they can," she said.

Trudy Kidd, a meteorologist with Environment Canada, said if there is no indication of touchdown, it would be considered a funnel cloud. They are still investigating.

Shantz added the local Home Hardware store sustained heavy damage.

The hardware store and surrounding businesses were evacuated and no injuries were reported.

North Dumfries fire crews remain on the scene due to the smell of natural gas.

Meanwhile, Waterloo Regional Police Service (WRPS) say Greenfield Drive between Trussler and Northumberland is closed due to downed trees and hydro poles.

"Do not approach or drive over a downed power line and do not touch anything it may be in contact with," a post by WRPS on social media said.

"Downed wires should always be considered energized or "live," and extremely dangerous."

Many residents received notifications on their phone Saturday morning around 10:43 a.m., warning them of the potentially hazardous weather.

Another alert was issued shortly after at 11:03 a.m.

The weather agency was advising residents to take cover immediately if threatening weather approaches and notes this is a dangerous and potentially life-threatening situation.

Environment Canada says tornado warnings are issued when imminent or occurring thunderstorms are likely to produce or are producing tornadoes.

Environment Canada also issued a tornado watch for Kitchener, Cambridge and Waterloo late Saturday morning, but it has since been downgraded to a severe thunderstorm watch.

The watch says conditions are favourable for the development of severe thunderstorms that may produce heavy rain, along with strong wind gusts and large hail.

Wind gusts could reach up to 90km/h with toonie-sized hail and heavy downpours.

A rainfall warning is also in effect for the region. Between 50 and 100 mm of rain are expected to fall, the weather agency said.

Rain is expected to continue into Sunday.

The Northern Tornadoes Project (NTP) has confirmed that a tornado touched down in Ayr, Ontario, on Saturday, August 17, 2024. The tornado caused significant damage to a Home Hardware store, downed trees and power lines, and left thousands without power. The NTP is still investigating the strength of the tornado, but they confirmed the storm was substantial.

The storm also caused significant damage to Cowan Park and the Northumberland Street corridor, both located near the intersection of Greenfield Road. A number of residents reported that their trees were uprooted by the storm.

Waterloo Regional Police (WRPS) said they received reports of a train derailment in the area with several rail cars flipped over. They said there are no reports of hazardous material spills and railway employees were managing the clean up.

The Township of North Dumfries has confirmed that no injuries were reported as a result of the storm. However, power outages are expected to last for an extended period of time, especially in the Greenfield Road West area between Trussler Road and Northumberland Street.

Emergency crews and GrandBridge Energy are working to restore power to the area. In the meantime, the township is asking drivers to avoid the Greenfield Road area to allow emergency crews to complete their work.

The storm also caused heavy rain and strong winds across southern Ontario. Environment Canada issued tornado watches and special weather advisories for the region on Saturday. The agency said it was looking into reports that a tornado touched down in Ayr, but there are no reports of injuries.

Toronto and much of southern Ontario were under several weather advisories throughout the day, including tornado, severe thunderstorm and rainfall warnings. Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) said some locations saw 100 millimetres of rain Saturday afternoon. The agency adds heavy downpours can lead to the pooling of water on roadways and flash floods.

The storm also caused flight diversions and ground delays at Toronto Pearson airport. Heavy rain also forced Woodbine Entertainment to cancel the rest of the King’s Plate live racing due to “unsafe racing conditions.”

While the storm has moved on, residents of southern Ontario are waking up to another wet and rainy day as a storm system lingers over parts of the province. Environment Canada is warning that additional rainfall is expected to result in further impacts throughout Sunday.

Moving Forward: The Community Rallies

Despite the damage and disruption, the community of Ayr is pulling together to rebuild and support one another. The Township of North Dumfries has set up a community support center for those who have been affected by the storm.

Ayr Foodland donated bottled water to crews working on cleaning up the damage and to Greenfield Road residents who were impacted by the storm and use a well system. Geoff Wheeler, a resident of Ayr, said that he and his family are focused on rebuilding after running to the basement when they received the emergency alert.

"We all stick together during this. I think we all have a good community, good neighbours. We’ll help each other out for the next little while."

The storm serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of weather in southern Ontario. It is a testament to the resilience of the community and its ability to come together in times of need.

The Need for Preparedness

The storm also highlights the importance of being prepared for severe weather events. Environment Canada provides a number of resources to help Canadians stay safe during severe weather, including information on how to prepare for tornadoes and other severe weather events.

It is important to have a plan in place in case of severe weather. This plan should include knowing where to go for shelter, what to bring with you, and how to communicate with loved ones.

Stay informed about weather warnings and advisories by subscribing to Environment Canada's weather alerts. Be prepared to take action if severe weather threatens your area.