It could’ve been a lot worse.
The Toronto area was hit with nearly 100 mm of rain on 16JUL, sparking airport delays, power outages and road closures. But there were no reports of deaths, and the city's two largest airports managed to muddle through.
YTZ authorities said the pedestrian tunnel from the mainland to Billy Bishop Toronto City Centre Airport was closed at approximately noon as a precautionary method due to heavy rain. The tunnel was reopened early on 17JUL, airport officials said on its Twitter/X account (@BBishopAirport).
Officials at YTZ also had to deal with a downtown power outage but said backup systems kicked in to keep service going. A spokesperson said YTZ didn’t sustain any damage, but some flights were delayed due to the heavy rain.
“Flights have been affected because of the weather,” Porter Airlines said in an email to Open Jaw. “We're in the process of recovering through the day, with passengers being moved to next available flights where necessary.”
One of Wettest Days in YYZ History
YYZ officials said the airport received 97.41 mm of rain in a 3.5-hour period on 16JUL.
“During a 10-minute span, we recorded 26 mm of rain,” YYZ authorities said on their Twitter/X account (@TorontoPearson). “This is the fifth wettest day ever recorded at the airport.”
Air Canada said the severe weather caused some delays, mostly due to lightning. However, a spokesperson told Open Jaw that there were no reports of flooding affecting their operations.
The Flight Aware website showed that 49% of departing flights (307 in all) were delayed at YYZ, while 43% (277) of arriving flights were delayed.
There also were significant delays at YUL and at airports in the northeastern U.S. as major storms rolled through.
The Toronto Pearson website showed at least some departing planes were delayed by more than three hours.
“Today, we’re expecting to see airlines playing catch-up from yesterday's thunderstorms in the GTA and along the U.S. eastern seaboard,” Pearson officials said on Twitter/X on 17 JUL. “Please be aware of closed road barriers, and if you’re travelling, take alternate routes to the airport.”
YYZ spokesperson Stephanie Smyth said Convair Drive between Flightline Drive and Brittania Drive will be closed for one to two days. Courtney Park Drive between Netherhart Road and Brittania Drive was closed at one point on 16JUL, while southbound lanes on Highway 410 were closed between Highways 407 and 401.
“Roads leading into the terminals have not been impacted and parking garages remain open,” she said.
