Lightning strike  (Photo courtesy of Rachel Hoekstra) Lightning strike (Photo courtesy of Rachel Hoekstra)
Sarnia

UPDATE: Severe thunderstorms to roar through southwestern Ontario

Environment Canada is tracking a cluster of severe thunderstorms through southwestern.

A severe thunderstorm watch is in effect for Windsor-Essex, Chatham-Kent, and parts of Elgin county.

The watches were issued mid-afternoon on Friday and are expected to last into the evening.

Just before 4 p.m. the severe thunderstorm watches in Sarnia-Lambton and London-Middlesex were upgraded to a severe thunderstorm warning. The warning ended before 7 p.m., and was downgraded back to watch.

At 6:50 p.m., Chatham-Kent was upgraded to a severe thunderstorm warning.

By 9:30 p.m., all warnings and watches were lifted, except for Windsor-Essex, which remains under a thunderstorm watch

The storms could produce strong wind gusts up to 90 kilometers per hour, nickel size hail, and 50 mm of rainfall within an hour.

"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. Heavy downpours can cause flash floods and water pooling on roads." the weather agency said.

Anyone outside during this time is warned to take cover immediately if threatening weather approaches.

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