WEST CARLETON – A tornado warning last night was downgraded to severe thunderstorms in West Carleton but was still powerful enough to topple hydro poles, trees and cause two minor motor vehicle collisions.

Hydro Ottawa had to restore power in eight areas of the city after a severe thunderstorm blew through last night (Aug. 17) including West Carleton.

As of 6:55 p.m. the utility said 2,790 customers are without power. More than 800 of those people were in the Dunrobin and West Carleton-March area. Hydro Ottawa reported power outages along the Old Second Line, Stonecrest, March, Marchurst and Huntmar area.

Trees and hydro lines were reported down in the area including some damage to buildings.

Hydro Ottawa had power restored to the affected areas around midnight.

Tornado warnings first appeared in the Pembroke, Petawawa and Cobden area yesterday afternoon and then filtered down the Ottawa River to the Ottawa area.

Environment Canada issued a tornado warning for the capital region late Monday afternoon, and later downgraded the warning to a severe thunderstorm warning.

Ottawa Fire Services (OFS) also responded to multiple power lines down and a collision on March Road between Huntmar and Old Second Line Road.

“Firefighters located two separate vehicles near March Road and Old Second Line that had left the road,” the OFS reported. “One of the drivers was assessed by the Ottawa Paramedic Service. Firefighters have removed multiple trees from the road to make way for Hydro Ottawa repair crews. Multiple poles and lines down.”