Canada Day celebrations across Waterloo Region came to an early and unexpected stop on Wednesday after a powerful storm swept through the area.
What was supposed to be a festive evening quickly turned dangerous as temperatures dropped sharply, strong winds moved in, trees came down, power lines were damaged, and fireworks events were cancelled or postponed.
Sudden Weather Shift Hits Waterloo Region
Between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m., temperatures in Waterloo Region fell from 34 C to 23 C. Along with the sudden drop came strong winds reaching more than 60 kilometres per hour.
The fast-moving storm created hazardous conditions across the region and forced many residents to seek shelter instead of continuing with Canada Day activities.
Police Receive Dozens of Storm-Related Reports
Waterloo Regional Police said that by around 6:30 p.m., their communications centre had received more than 45 reports connected to dangerous storm conditions.
The reports included:
- Trees knocked down onto roads
- Damage to homes
- Damage to trailers
- Downed power lines
- Unsafe driving and outdoor conditions
The storm created widespread disruption during one of the busiest public celebration days of the year.
Power Outages Affect Cambridge, North Dumfries and Ayr
Downed power lines led to outages in several communities across Waterloo Region.
Shortly after 6:30 p.m., GrandBridge Energy posted on X that just under 964 customers had lost power in Cambridge, mainly in areas north of Concession Street and west of Franklin Boulevard.
Even more residents were affected in North Dumfries and Ayr, where about 2,865 customers lost electricity shortly after 6 p.m.
Most residents who lost power during the storm had service restored shortly before 9 p.m.
Canada Day Fireworks Cancelled or Postponed
The severe weather forced several Canada Day events to be cancelled or delayed.
The City of Cambridge announced on Instagram shortly before 7 p.m. that its Canada Day fireworks display would be cancelled because of the incoming storm front.
Organizers later assured attendees that the fireworks would be postponed to another date.
Heatwave Expected to Continue
The storm came during a volatile heatwave that had affected the region since Sunday.
The hot weather is still expected to continue into the weekend of July 4-5. On Thursday, temperatures are forecast to reach 34 C, but with humidity, it may feel closer to 45 C.
More Thunderstorms Possible
Environment Canada is also forecasting unsettled weather in the days ahead.
There is a 40% chance or higher of showers or thunderstorms every day until Monday, July 6. This means Waterloo Region residents may continue to face humid, stormy and unstable conditions after the Canada Day disruption.