HISTORIC FLOODS: Skies opened up to leave parts of Mississauga underwater one year ago

July 16, 2024 began much like any other summer day where thunderstorms were on the horizon in Mississauga and across the Greater Toronto Area.

It was a Tuesday morning, one year ago today, and weather disturbances bringing heavy rain — and the potential for localized flooding — were expected to make their way through parts of southern Ontario as people headed to work or out to run errands.

The events of the day got rolling with word from Environment and Climate Change Canada that, as of 8:30 a.m., a severe thunderstorm warning was in effect for Mississauga, Brampton, Caledon, Hamilton, Milton, Halton Hills, Burlington and Oakville.

Less worrisome thunderstorm watches, meanwhile, were in place for Pickering, Ajax, Oshawa, Whitby and north Durham Region.

One year ago on this day, there were torrential downpours, causing flooding and power outages around the GTHA area. 🌧️#ONwx pic.twitter.com/kddp3mbn8b

— ECCC Weather Ontario (@ECCCWeatherON) July 16, 2025

Still, not at all unusual as far as summertime weather goes for Canada’s seventh-largest city and surrounding areas.

But things quickly changed, taking a turn for the worse. By early and mid-afternoon, many Mississauga neighbourhoods, homes, roads, sidewalks, businesses, sports fields, parks and trails, and parts of major highways had been flooded.

City of Mississauga officials said in a post to social media at the time they’d been alerted to numerous situations across the city and that calls were still coming in well into the afternoon of July 16, 2024 in response to the widespread flooding that took most everyone by surprise.

Extensive flooding was reported at Tyndall Seniors Village long-term care centre on Eglinton Avenue East in Mississauga on July 16, 2024. Firefighters had to use rescue boats to access the building and trapped residents. (Photo: Mississauga Fire and Emergency Services X)

In one of many cases, Mississauga firefighters took to rescue boats to check on dozens of vehicles stranded in flood waters on a residential street in the city’s east end near Dundas Street and Dixie Road.

“Due to the significant rain, city crews are fielding several flooding issues on sidewalks, roads, parks and trails. We are also getting reports from some residents who are experiencing flooding in their home,” officials said at the time.

Peel Regional Police were also stretched to the max in responding to numerous calls of flooded roads and other areas in both Mississauga and Brampton.

“Numerous roads within the region have flooded,” police said that day in a post to X (formerly Twitter), adding drivers were being told to avoid those areas, “particularly under overpasses and low-lying places.”

As of early that Tuesday afternoon, Mississauga firefighters said all of their rescue teams had been deployed to various areas of the city as numerous buildings were flooded and drivers sat stranded on flooded streets.

“Numerous rescues are ongoing throughout the city,” fire officials said at the time.

A car is surrounded by rising flood waters on Queen Frederica Drive in Mississauga’s east end last July 16. (Photo: Mississauga Fire and Emergency Services)

In a post to social media, Mississauga Fire and Emergency Services officials said at one point in the early afternoon they were “checking the approximately 50 cars located on Queen Frederica Drive (in east Mississauga) to ensure nobody is stranded in the vehicles.”

Meanwhile, paramedics and firefighters were also kept busy tending to dozens of residents at a long-term care home in Mississauga’s east end after part of the nearby Etobicoke Creek overflowed and flooded the building.

Tyndall Seniors Village, near Eglinton Avenue East and Tomken Road, took in large amounts of water early that afternoon, forcing the evacuation of 116 residents as the entire first floor was flooded.

Rescuers tend to a motorist caught in the historic flooding on July 16, 2024. (Photo: Mississauga Fire and Emergency Services X)

Efforts to move those people to safety continued for 12 hours or so, well into the night and early hours the following morning as firefighters used rescue boats/dinghies to get to the flooded building and evacuate residents.

Historic flooding

When all was said and done, July 16, 2024 turned out to be a record-setting day, a day for the ages, officials said — and not in a good way.

City officials noted the torrential downpour that slammed into Mississauga and the GTA was “more intense than a one-in-100-year storm event.”

They added the city received a month’s worth of rain over the course of a few hours, noting Mississauga saw upwards of 106 mm of rainfall between 8 a.m. and noon that day.

At Pearson Airport in Mississauga’s northeast end, an Environment and Climate Change Canada weather station recorded 122.9 mm of rain at Canada’s biggest and busiest airport between Monday and Tuesday that week. It was the most rain received in any one area across southern Ontario over that period.

Mississauga firefighters helped evacuate dozens of residents from Tyndall Seniors Village long-term care centre. (Photo: Mississauga Fire and Emergency Services)

Numerous rivers, creeks and streams across Mississauga were either at their capacity or overflowing their banks on July 16, 2024. (Photo: Mississauga Fire and Emergency Services X)

Numerous vehicles were stranded in flood waters across Mississauga while in other cases drivers were able to make it to safety with their cars. Image at left shows two vehicles making their way along a flooded roadway near Elora Road in the area of Mavis Road and Highway 403. (Photo: From 905hub video)