Suspected tornado touches down in Barrie, high wind gusts and hail damage buildings in area

© Edward Loveless/Twitter A neighbourhood in Barrie had its homes damaged following heavy storms after Environment Canada issued a tornado warning for the region.

Homes in Barrie, Ont. were seriously damaged Thursday after a suspected tornado touched down in the region.

Residents in Barrie posted photos and videos of damage from the storm. Many homes had roofs, backyards, and fences damaged.

Police in Barrie, which is about 115 km north of Toronto, say they are responding to “multiple reports of damage” in the southeast part of the city.

Environment Canada had first issued a severe thunderstorm watch just before noon for Barrie, Midland, and Orillia. That was upgraded to a tornado warning by early afternoon which ended just before 3 p.m.

By 3 p.m., Environment Canada issued another tornado warning for Newmarket, Georgina, Uxbridge, and surrounding areas, but had ended it by 3:30 p.m. As of 3:30 p.m. a tornado warning is in effect for the Peterborough – Kawartha Lakes area, and has ended in other regions.

Much of southern Ontario beyond Toronto remains under a severe thunderstorm watch according to Environment Canada. 

Hazards include damaging wind gusts of 90 to 110 km/h, nickel-sized hails, and heavy downpours.

The agency says it is continuing to monitor for possible tornadoes.