‘Torrential downpours’ expected as Beryl could push into GTA

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Button up, the remnants of Hurricane Beryl could make for a soggy end to the week across the GTA.

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Environment Canada issued a special weather statement on Monday afternoon, saying there was a “potential for heavy rainfall” on Wednesday and Thursday as the storm continues its steady march northeast from the Gulf of Mexico.

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The bulletin for Toronto warned of “torrential downpours” with rainfall rates of 20 millimetres to 40 millilitres per hour at times, while localized rainfall totals could possibly surpass 50 millimetres per hour in some areas.

“Although confidence in the exact track of the weather system is low, these types of systems in the past have given very high rainfall rates in torrential downpours,” the statement said. “Rainfall warnings may be issued as confidence in the track of the system increases.”

Beryl, now a tropical depression, made landfall near Matagorda, Texas, early Monday morning as a Category 1 hurricane and was expected to move through Arkansas and into Missouri on Tuesday.

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The U.S. National Hurricane Center predicts that the storm could reach Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio on Wednesday before moving into southwestern Ontario in the afternoon.

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At least 13 people have died, including four in Texas, according to CNN, after the storm plowed through Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, Jamaica and other Caribbean islands last week and into the weekend, peaking as a Category 5 storm.

The warning for Toronto came with the city already in the middle of a heat event, which is expected to continue on Tuesday.

Daytime highs are expected to be about 31C with the humidex at about 35C-38C. Environment Canada said there will be “little relief” on Monday night, with lows expected to be about 20C or above.

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