Currently in Toronto — May 23rd, 2022
The weather, currently.
**Special Report** Relative calm and dry conditions as the clean-up continues from the deadly weekend storms. Five fatalities have so far been reported after an intense line of storms ripped across the region. Hurricane-force wind gusts were recorded in many areas across Southern Ontario on Saturday, including Toronto, with a peak gust of 120km/h — the strongest May wind gust on record.
The event that unfolded is referred to as a "derecho." This is typically a widespread, long-lived wind storm that is associated with a group of rapidly moving thunderstorms. Although these storms can produce tornadoes, storm damage is typically due to high winds, primarily in one direction. The path of destruction from this line of storms stretched from SW Ontario all the way to Quebec city. There is extensive damage to homes, businesses, vehicles, and property due to fallen trees. Power outages continue in some areas.
A ridge of high pressure will now build in behind the passing cold front for Victoria Day on Monday. Expect mainly sunny skies and a wake-up temperature of 9°C. Overall, a mix of sun and cloud for the day with a high of 17°C which is 4 degrees cooler than the norm. The wind will be light from the NW at 20 and the UV index will be 8 or very high.
Monday Night: For those planning to enjoy firework celebrations the conditions will be suitable, with just some scattered clouds and a low of 8°C.
What you need to know, currently.
Our Managing Editor, Zaria Howell, profiled Mia Madison, Executive Director of Memphis Tilth. Memphis Tilth is an environmental organization that promotes sustainable local food systems.
“It wasn’t until Madison transferred to the University of Memphis in the early 2000s to study geography, however, that she learned about the connection between environmental racism and marginalized communities.
It was in urban planning and anthropology classes that Madison began to seriously flex her advocacy muscle. Although, she says that it’s her lived experiences — growing up in the South, witnessing and following white flight, creating poverty maps for the city of Memphis — that really informed a lot of her interest in community organizing.”