Environment Canada has classified the severe weather in Orillia as a downburst.

"What we're calling it so far is a downburst--and a preliminary rating would be a high end EF-0," says David Sills from Environment Canada. "So that's winds up to 120-130 kilometers per hour."

Couchiching Beach Park and Tudhope Park were hit particularly hard.

Mayor of Orillia Angelo Orsi said "It was dark but trees were down everywhere. But this morning we can actually see the damage done."

Several houses and cars were damaged throughout the city by falling debris and trees.

Officials say it will take a couple weeks for crews to clean up the damage caused by the downburst.

They ask residents to stay away from damaged areas and respect the space of those doing clean-up.