This evening, Environment Canada lifted a severe thunderstorm watch for Toronto. The agency had issued the warning earlier for much of southern Ontario.

Affected areas included Peel, Halton, York and Durham regions, Hamilton, Peterborough, Barrie and Muskoka, among others.

Most of these watches have now been lifted, too.

“The thunderstorms are expected to develop ahead of or along a cold front this afternoon or evening,” the forecaster said, and advised residents in the affected areas to stay indoors when the weather is dangerous.

Environment Canada meteorologist Geoff Coulson says that while the storms have yet to form, there is “potential for them to form later.”

At 5:37 p.m., Environment Canada updated their information to include not only a thunderstorm watch, but a severe thunderstorm warning for Newmarket, Georgina, and the Northern York Region.

Warnings for Caledon, Innisfil, New Tecumseth, Orangeville, Northern and Southern Dufferin County, and others, were lifted by 7:39 p.m.

Pickering, Oshawa, and the Southern Durham Region are still under severe thunderstorm watch, as well as a severe thunderstorm warning.

Coulson says that if the storms materialize, residents can expect wind gusts of more than 90 km/h and possibly hail larger than a nickel.

According to Environment Canada, severe thunderstorms can also produce heavy downpours, and even tornadoes.

“The Office of the Fire Marshal and Emergency Management recommends that you take cover immediately if threatening weather approaches,” the weather agency warns.

The storms may put a damper on your long weekend plans, as they will usher in a “different brand of air for Friday and the weekend,” said Coulson — in this case slightly colder air, ending the blissfully warm temperatures that Toronto has enjoyed for the past two days.

Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading...

Friday’s predicted high will be 17 C, Saturday’s will dip down to 14 C, Sunday may see a high of 21 C and a 60-per-cent chance of rain, and Monday’s temperature is expected to hover just below the seasonal average (which is about 20 C) at 17 C.

With files from Alexandra Jones

Read more about: