Heavy Rains Expected As Remnants Of Ike Cross Canada

The remnants of hurricane Ike, now downgraded to a tropical storm, are causing heavy rains over much of Southern Ontario, Quebec and parts of the Maritimes, Environment Canada said.

The storm is expected to cross directly over Southern Ontario and the weather agency says "significant" rains are expected there until Monday.

Rainfall Saturday in some parts of Ontario amounted to 75 millimetres.

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="210" caption="A home is surrounded by floodwaters from Hurricane Ike in Galveston, Texas September 13, 2008. Reuters"][/caption]

The storm was expected to be down-graded to post-tropical status as it continued tracking northeastward toward the Great Lakes Sunday. It was expected to remain an "intense storm" as it moves over southeastern Quebec and to bring heavy rains over parts of Labrador Sunday night and Monday morning.

Central and southeastern Labrador are expected to be hit the hardest with at least 40 millimetres of rain.

On Saturday, Ike slammed into the Texas coast as a giant Category 2 hurricane, leaving extensive devastation in its wake.

Officials have barely begun to assess the damage, which early estimates put in the billions of dollars.

Canada.Com