Amid a tornado warning for much of the area, a tornado potentially touched down in Ayr, Ont., on Saturday morning, according to North Dumfries Township.
On its website, the city noted that the tornado had potentially touched down near Greenfield and Northhumberland roads shortly before 10:50 a.m.
At 10:42, Environment Canada issued a tornado warning for the area which said they were “tracking a severe thunderstorm that is possibly producing a tornado. This severe thunderstorm is located near Plattsville, moving northeast at 35 km.”
Global News has contacted the Northern Tornado Project and Environment Canada in an effort to confirm whether a tornado touched down in the area.
The email you need for the day’s
top news stories from Canada and around the world.
Get daily National news
Get the day’s top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day.
The township says that the sports park, Cowan Park, has received extensive damage while properties on Greenfield Road West and along the Northumberland Street corridor were also damaged.
“Emergency crews were deployed to the impacted area immediately upon the first report of property damage,” the township noted. “Crews remain on scene and have now been complemented by resources from GrandBridge Energy.”
The township noted that the CPKC is also checking in on its rail cars as Waterloo Regional Police reported that some may have derailed.
“WRPS also received reports of a train derailment in the area, with several rail cars flipped over,” police said. “There are no reports of any hazardous materials. The incident was managed by railway employees, and emergency service assistance was not required.”
Global News has reached out to CKPC for more information on the potential derailment.
Police also reported damage to a Home Hardware in which the roof was “partially torn off.”
“The business was evacuated, and all employees and customers were able to exit safely.”
North Dumfries said the fire department is conducting wellness checks with no injuries to report thus far.
They are asking the public to avoid driving in the area as the traffic congestion is preventing emergency crews from completing their tasks.
© 2024 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.