A short time ago, Environment Canada issued the following weather statement for our region. Alert issued at 2:34 pm

Severe thunderstorm watch in effect for:

Sault Ste. Marie – St. Joseph Island

Searchmont – Montreal River Harbour – Batchawana Bay

Conditions are favourable for the development of severe thunderstorms that may be capable of producing strong wind gusts and large hail.

Isolated thunderstorms are expected across portions of northeastern Ontario this afternoon and early evening. Brief wind gusts to 90 km/h and hail are possible with some of these thunderstorms.

The thunderstorms should dissipate this evening.

Large hail can damage property and cause injury. Strong wind gusts can toss loose objects, damage weak buildings, break branches off trees and overturn large vehicles. Lightning kills and injures Canadians every year. Remember, when thunder roars, go indoors!

Severe thunderstorm watches are issued when atmospheric conditions are favourable for the development of thunderstorms that could produce one or more of the following: large hail, damaging winds, torrential rainfall.

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

Please continue to monitor alerts and forecasts issued by Environment Canada. To report severe weather, send an email to ONstorm@canada.ca or tweet reports using #ONStorm.

For more information:

http://www.emergencymanagementontario.ca/english/beprepared/beprepared.html.