Roads Reopened After Toronto Flash-Flooding Caused by Record Rainfall, Thousands Without Power

A tow truck operator responds to submerged vehicles at an underpass at Parkside Drive and Lake Shore Boulevard after heavy rain caused flooding in Toronto on July 16, 2024. The Canadian Press/Christopher Katsarov

Major roads have been reopened following Toronto’s flash-flooding that left drivers stranded in submerged vehicles on the busy Don Valley Parkway on July 16. About 167,000 Hydro One customers had lost power, and more than 4,000 remained affected by outages as of 8 a.m. local time.

It’s being hailed as a weather event rivaling Toronto’s 2013 flooding that caused some $1 billion in damages, according to data from the Insurance Bureau of Canada and adjusted for inflation in 2021.

All roads are open, including the Don Valley Parkway and Gardiner Expressway, but city crews are still working to open Unwin Avenue, and Bayview Avenue between Pottery Road and River Street, officials said.  Most of the remaining power outages are in the Etobicoke area. 

“We’ve made significant progress repairing our station overnight and work continues this morning,” said Hydro One in a post on X. “Customers are encouraged to conserve power to ease the strain on the grid.”

Cars are partially submerged in flood waters in the Don Valley following heavy rain in Toronto, on July 16 2024. The Canadian Press/Arlyn McAdorey

Union Station’s York Concourse is pictured during a flood following heavy rain in Toronto, on July 16 2024. The Canadian Press/Arlyn McAdorey

The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) is now operating normally, the city said, after many of its subway stations, streetcars, and bus stations were closed on July 16. Union Station, which was also affected, is now fully operational.  The Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) downgraded the flood warning it had issued Tuesday morning and replaced it with a statement on river and stream conditions late in the evening. Some rivers within the GTA continue to experience higher flows and water levels. The Lake Ontario shoreline is at normal water levels, said the TRCA, but all shorelines, rivers, and streams should still be considered dangerous. Toronto Fire Services (TFS) received nearly 1,700 calls for service between 6 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Tuesday, it said in a post on X. The TFS dispatched crews to almost 500 incidents during that time span, including more than 50 elevator rescue calls, and over 20 people trapped in cars and buildings. 

The fire service said one of the people it rescued was stranded on an “island” created by the flooding.

Drivers stranded due to flood waters blocking the Don Valley Parkway are rescued by fire crews following heavy rain in Toronto, on July 16 2024. The Canadian Press/Arlyn McAdorey

The city said it will continue to inspect bridges, culverts and guardrails throughout the day.

About 100 millimetres of rain fell in some areas, making it the rainiest July 16 on record since 1941, says Environment Canada. It was the fifth ever rainiest day on record, according to measurements taken at Pearson International Airport.

The Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) says residents should check what their home and auto policies cover regarding flood-related damages. For home insurance, overland flood coverage is usually optional, says IBC. 

IBC advises anyone with damage to take photos and document it to start the claims process.

The Canadian Press contributed to this report.