LOCAL

Severe Weather Alert: Ottawa-Gatineau Under Thunderstorm Watch as Tornado Cleanup Begins in Kingston

Environment Canada issues a severe thunderstorm watch for Ottawa-Gatineau as Kingston recovers from a red tornado warning and significant storm damage.

Published

4 months ago

June 30, 2026

The Current News Room

Severe Thunderstorm Threat Moves Across Eastern Ontario

Environment Canada has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for the Ottawa-Gatineau region, warning residents of potentially volatile atmospheric conditions. The agency alerted the public on Tuesday morning that conditions are ripe for the development of intense storms capable of producing damaging wind gusts of up to 110 km/h, golf ball-sized hail, and torrential rainfall exceeding 50 millimetres. While the current watch is classified at the yellow level—the lowest on the agency’s three-tier scale—officials emphasize that local utility outages and flash flooding remain significant risks throughout the afternoon and early evening.

Kingston Endures Tornado Warning and Infrastructure Damage

The updated alerts come as communities in and around Kingston, Ontario, begin the arduous process of clearing debris following a harrowing afternoon. Earlier Tuesday, Environment Canada upgraded local alerts to a red tornado warning—the highest level of emergency notification—after meteorologists tracked a rotating system with the potential to produce a tornado. Though the red alert was rescinded within the hour, the impact was immediate. In South Frontenac, Emergency Services Director Del Blakney described a dramatic scene where the sky turned black as night, followed by swirling winds that uprooted mature trees and sent them crashing onto roadways.

Transportation and Utility Disruptions

The city of Kingston reported widespread disruptions to local infrastructure, including flooding at the Gardiners Road underpass and significant debris concentrated in the city’s north and east ends. Kingston Transit was forced to briefly suspend all operations to ensure passenger safety as the storm peaked. South Frontenac fire crews have noted an uptick in emergency calls related to fallen trees and blocked access routes. As the weather system migrates toward the Ottawa Valley, meteorologists are urging residents to secure loose outdoor items and remain indoors if thunder becomes audible, noting that severe weather patterns in the region are becoming increasingly unpredictable during the summer months.

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LOCAL

Community Safety Highlighted After Gunshots Hit Fort St. John Home

Fort St. John RCMP are investigating after gunshots struck a home on Saturday. Police confirm no injuries were reported in the residential incident.

Published

2 days ago

October 25, 2026

Current Editor

RCMP Respond to Shooting in Residential Area

An investigation is underway in Fort St. John, B.C., after a local home was struck by gunfire on Saturday.

RCMP officers were dispatched to the neighborhood following multiple public reports of gunshots. Upon arrival, police confirmed that a residence had been hit several times.

Police Warn of Danger to Neighbourhood

No injuries were reported as a result of the gunfire. However, law enforcement officials emphasized the severe potential risks associated with the incident.

“Cpl. Brett Urano says it was fortunate no one was injured, but the potential for a tragic outcome can’t be understated,” police stated. Officials added that discharging firearms in a residential area puts innocent individuals and families at serious risk.

LOCAL

Suspect Arrested in North Kelowna Hit-and-Run After Multi-Unit RCMP Search

Kelowna and Lake Country RCMP arrested a hit-and-run suspect after a two-vehicle crash on Highway 97 near Ellison Lake on Oct. 24. No injuries reported.

Published

2 days ago

October 25, 2026

Current Editor

Hit-and-Run Incident Causes Traffic Delay on Highway 97

A driver attempting to flee on foot following a two-vehicle crash on Highway 97 near Ellison Lake was taken into custody by police on Saturday, Oct. 24. The collision in North Kelowna resulted in traffic slowing to a crawl while emergency responders managed the scene.

Extensive Police Response Leads to Arrest

Witnesses contacted authorities after observing the driver of a black sedan abandon the vehicle and run into a nearby green space. Multiple law enforcement teams were dispatched to track down the fleeing suspect, including the Kelowna RCMP Road Safety Unit, the Kelowna RCMP Gang Enforcement Team, frontline officers, Lake Country RCMP, Police Dog Services, and RCMP Air Services.

According to Kelowna RCMP media relations officer Cpl. Steven Lang, officers located and arrested the suspected driver close to the crash site shortly after the search began.

Police Investigation Ongoing

Authorities reported that no injuries occurred as a result of the collision. “Investigators believe alcohol and speed were factors in the collision,” Lang stated.

HEALTH

Coquihalla Highway Reopens Near Merritt Following Morning Crash That Injured Four

The Coquihalla Highway north of Merritt has reopened following a Saturday morning vehicle crash that resulted in four people being taken to the hospital.

Published

6 days ago

October 21, 2026

Current Editor

Traffic Resumes Following Serious Morning Incident

Four people were hospitalized, including three in critical condition, after a motor vehicle incident occurred north of Merritt on Saturday morning, October 17.

DriveBC reported that the Coquihalla Highway was reopened in both directions from Exit 290 to Exit 315 at approximately 4:00 p.m., following the earlier closure.

Emergency Responders Deploy Air Ambulances

BC Emergency Health Services dispatched multiple resources after receiving a call at approximately 8:35 a.m. The response included two air ambulances, three primary care paramedic ambulances, one advanced care paramedic ambulance, and a paramedic supervisor.

According to BCEHS, crews provided emergency medical care at the scene. Two of the three critically injured patients were flown to the hospital via air ambulance, while a fourth patient was taken to the hospital in stable condition.