Toronto, Canada experienced record-breaking rainfall on July 16, 2024, causing widespread flooding and power outages across the city. The storm dumped over 100mm of rain in just a few hours, far exceeding the city’s average monthly rainfall for July. The intense downpour led to flooded streets, submerged vehicles, and water-logged buildings, including the mansion of renowned rapper Drake.Drake, whose real name is Aubrey Graham, shared a video on Instagram showing ankle-deep brown water rushing into his 35,000-square-foot Bridle Path mansion. In the video, Drake can be seen wading through the flood, jokingly captioning the post, ‘This better be espresso martini’. The flooding in Drake’s home became a high-profile example of the storm’s impact on the city.The severe weather caused significant disruptions across Toronto. At its peak, about 167,000 customers lost power. Major roads, including sections of the Don Valley Parkway, were closed due to flooding. The Toronto Fire Department reported rescuing 14 people from stranded vehicles. Toronto Pearson International Airport recorded its fifth wettest day ever with 3.8 inches of rain.City officials and emergency services were quick to respond to the crisis. The Toronto and Region Conservation Authority reported that some areas received over 100 millimetres of rain during the storm. Environment Canada had issued a severe thunderstorm warning before the deluge. As of Wednesday morning, crews were working to restore power and reopen roads, with about 3,200 customers still without electricity.While the flooding caused extensive property damage, there were no reports of serious injuries. The Insurance Bureau of Canada advised residents to review their policies to see what damage might be covered. As the city continues its clean-up efforts, officials are preparing for the possibility of more rain later in the week.
Key points
- Toronto experienced record-breaking rainfall of over 100mm in a few hours, causing widespread flooding.
- Rapper Drake’s 35,000-square-foot mansion was among the properties flooded, as shown in his viral Instagram video.
- The storm caused power outages for up to 167,000 customers and led to road closures and emergency rescues.
- Despite extensive property damage, no serious injuries were reported, and the city is now in clean-up mode.
Contradictions👾Some sources reported the number of customers without power as 167,000, while others mentioned 170,000 or 175,000.
These discrepancies likely reflect different reporting times or methodologies.