Hamilton’s weather is going to be wild today

Hamilton and surrounding areas are under a severe thunderstorm warning as of 11:30 a.m. Friday (March 20).

Hamilton and surrounding areas are under a severe thunderstorm warning as of 11:30 a.m. Friday (March 20).

Environment Canada says meteorologists are tracking a severe thunderstorm capable of producing very strong wind gusts.

This line of severe thunderstorms is located from Freelton to Burford, moving east at 80 km/h.

The locations that could be impacted include: Hamilton, Brantford, Burlington, Ancaster, Dundas, Waterdown, Stoney Creek and Rockton.

The weather agency warns residents that strong wind gusts can toss loose objects, damage weak buildings, break branches off trees and overturn large vehicles.

Severe thunderstorm warnings are issued when imminent or occurring thunderstorms are likely to produce or are producing 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.

On the heels of these storms, a ‘strong’ cold front is expected to move into the area by later Friday afternoon, Environment Canada says.

Scattered wind gusts near or in excess of 90 km/h will be possible as the band moves through. Given the scattered nature of the band, confidence in high winds gusts occurring in any given place is low.

Where these strong winds develop, local power outages will likely occur.