Canada Day festivities resume as tornado threat passes

Canada Day festivities in Ottawa-Gatineauhave resumed after they were suspended Saturday afternoonamidseveraltornado watches and severe thunderstorm warnings.

Conditions were favourablefor the development of severe thunderstorms that could produce tornadoes, Environment Canada said in a tornado watch alert issued for Ottawa at 1:06 p.m.

About two hours later, Canadian Heritage said its Canada Day activities in the National Capital Region would besuspended until further notice.

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It's the authority organizing events atLeBreton Flats and Parliament Hill, including musical performances and a fireworks show.

Shortly after 6:30 p.m., Canadian Heritage said the earlier inclement weather had passed and the evening show at LeBreton Flats Park would continue as originally scheduled.

Fireworks are still planned to close out the evening, their statement said.

Torrential downpours, large hail and wind gusts up 90 kilometres per hour wereall possible in Ottawa and across the wider region, according to the early afternoon alerts from Environment Canada.

Severe thunderstorms were possible throughout the afternoon and into the evening, the agency said, calling it a "dangerous and potentially life-threatening situation."

The agency issued asevere thunderstorm warning shortly after 2:30 p.m. for Ottawa,saying it was tracking a line of thunderstorms "capable of producing very strong wind gusts, up to toonie-size hail and heavy rain."

As of 6:30 p.m., most of the thunderstorm warnings and all of the tornado watches issued across eastern Ontario had been lifted.

Numerousthunderstorm watches remained in place, but by 10:30 p.m mostwere no longer in effect.