Strong winds in Guelph wreaked havoc across the city Saturday, resulting in reports of fallen trees in the downtown core and surrounding areas.
One incident happened along Quebec Street before 4 p.m. on Saturday while a wind warning was in effect for Guelph, Erin and Southern Wellington County.
The tree once stood in front of Lady Glaze Doughnut, and fell away from the store onto the road. There was no visible damage to any other cars or businesses nearby. Guelph Police Services were called to investigate the fallen tree.
After the tree fell, many residents stopped to take a photo of the tree, and cars driving by exercised caution. One resident who happened to see the tree fall, said it happened quickly.
“I think that tree is going to fall,” they said, recalling their initial thought as they watched.
Another resident, Russell McGladrey, said he was in shock after seeing the tree on the ground.
“I just literally walked by there,” he said, returning to the area from a nearby bus stop. “That tree’s been there for at least 35 years.”
Later that evening, another tree fell onto a house on the corner of Foster Avenue and Yorkshire Street South, damaging a vehicle and causing some damage to the roof. No injuries were reported and City of Guelph staff were on the scene to help remove the fallen tree.
By Saturday evening, acting sergeant Chris Probst said police had received reports of four or five fallen trees and power lines in Guelph.
Beside reports of damaged vehicles from limbs falling off of trees, he said they had received no reports of injuries.
“It’s nothing too stressful for our resources,” he said about the incidents. “The calls have subsided, the weather-related calls have completely subsided.”
