UPDATE: Significant rainfall kicks off Canada Day long weekend

Heavy rainfall and possible severe thunderstorms are expected across southwestern Ontario on Saturday.

Environment Canada issued a special weather statement for Sarnia-Lambton, Chatham-Kent, Windsor-Essex, London-Middlesex, Goderich, and Southern Huron County. However, the weather statement ended just before 11 a.m.

A severe thunderstorm watch was later issued for the same areas shortly after 11:40 a.m.

The national weather agency said torrential rainfall and wind gusts of up to 100 kilometres per hour were possible. The watch included a risk of a tornado.

“Thunderstorms [Saturday] afternoon have the potential to quickly become severe and generally track eastward,” read the weather advisory. “Thunderstorms are generally expected to be isolated early [Saturday] afternoon, however, [an] organized line of thunderstorms may develop later.”

Residents are reminded to go indoors when threatening weather approaches.