High winds and heavy rain that ripped through the Wiikwemkoong Cultural Festival on Sunday were caused by a squall line, according to Environment Canada.
Videos and images of the storm show people taking shelter and portable gazebos blowing away in the wind. See the videos below.
Environment Canada confirmed to Sudbury.com that a squall line with heavy rain and intense lightning passed through the area at about 6:40 p.m. on Aug. 5.
A squall line is a long line of thunderstorms that create damaging winds that are pushed forward perpendicular to the line's initial orientation.
Environment Canada meteorologist Peter Kimbell said that judging from the Facebook videos, "that is exactly what happened – downburst winds almost certainly in excess of 70 km/h and possibly as high as 100 km/h."
