Flooding and heavy rain will be a summer staple in Canada, experts warn

The Great Toronto Area has experienced heavy storms that caused floods across the city. It is not the first of the summer, and experts warn they will become more common.

The area experienced a heavy storm during the weekend of August 17. The extreme weather flooded the city and, according to CBC, prompted the intervention of emergency services.

Emergency responders rescued people trapped in stranded vehicles during the flood. Due to the heavy rain, they had to close roads.

The network said that the Federal Weather Agency reported that 128.3 millimeters (over 5 inches) fell at Toronto Pearson Airport during the first day's downpour.

The amount of rain broke the 2013 record of 126 millimeters (4.9 inches), making this summer the rainiest in history once the weather agencies gather all the season's data.

The August storm was not the first to disturb the Toronto area this summer. On July 16, heavy rains caused the same mishap: people trapped in cars, roads closed, and flooding.

Toronto's Union Station flooded, delaying most trains and disturbing the stores and businesses inside.

Experts told CBC that Toronto residents should expect shorter, more intense summer storms. Climate change will make these phenomena more common during that season.

Joanna Eyquem, director of climate resilience infrastructure at the Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation, told the network that hot air holds more water, resulting in more rain.

Heavy summer storms can cause flooding in places where people don't expect it, especially because sewage systems cannot handle the water flowing into them.

Eyquem said that more people need to learn how to prevent flooding from entering basements and reduce the damage if it does.

Never miss a story! Click here to follow The Daily Digest.