53,000 homes in the Outaouais region of Quebec are without power, as a storm makes its way from Ontario and into the province.
Environment and Climate Change Canada has confirmed that a tornado touched down in the Ottawa area.
A spokesperson for the weather agency told CTVNews.ca that the tornado touched down near Dunrobin, Ont, causing "pretty significant" damage, before heading across the Ottawa River.
Chief Anthony Di Monte told CTV Ottawa that there are currently 30 known injuries across the city with five three people in Dunrobin suffering critical injuries.
An Environment Canada official tells me the tornado is likely an EF2. That means winds upwards of 180 per hour. This is just a very early estimate @CTVNationalNews
— Annie BergeronOliver (@AnnieClaireBO) September 21, 2018
The tornado made it as far as Highway 50 near Gatineau, overturning several cars.
Just saw a tornado #Gatineau #Ottawa pic.twitter.com/EZ7m40syqX
— Alexis (@Zyly42) September 21, 2018
"The devastation is unreal," said witness Matthew Bowen. He said that approximately 10 houses and an entire mini mall in the area near his family's restaurant in Dunrobin were destroyed.
Environment Canada has dispatched teams from Montreal to survey the damage, and will send teams to the Ottawa area tomorrow to try and determine the strength of the storm.
“The probability of being affected by a tornado is very, very small. And even if you look at Ottawa, the coverage of this particular tornadic storm was actually quite small. But for the people affected, it’s devastating,” said Peter Kimbell, a meteorologist with the agency.
There's also a wind warning in effect for the entire province of Quebec through Friday night.
They're urging people to stay indoors and secure any belongings that the wind could turn into a projectile.
Earlier on Friday evening, there was a tornado warning for Lachute and Saint-Jerome.
