Some of the trees in Windsor and Essex County couldn’t handle the strong winds blowing through the region on Thursday.

A special weather statement is in effect as Environment Canada says strong winds are blowing a cold front through southwestern Ontario.

A City of Windsor forester says two vehicles were damaged by downed trees in the city. Both were Norway Maples.

Cleanup crews were quick to remove the tree on Pelissier Avenue. The other fallen tree was in the 4400 block of Howard Avenue.

A large tree branch snapped off and hit a cable wire on St. Thomas Street at Lacasse Boulevard in Tecumseh. Fire crews were called as it was first suspected to be a hydro wire.

No one was injured, even though the branch landed on a busy sidewalk near St. Pius Catholic Elementary School.

It could be a messy day in the Windsor area as showers are expected to accompany the winds.

Winds blowing at 50km/h are likely later on with gusts up to 80 km/h.

Some areas may see even higher winds with wind warnings in effect for areas near Eastern Lake Erie.

Essex Region Conservation Authority officials say there is the possibility for near shore soil

loss and erosion with wave overtopping and spray. In the areas of direct wave attack there is

also the possibility of breakwall damage.

ERCA says the areas of the region that could be most significantly impacted are the west side of Leamington, west of Point Pelee National Park and the east portions of Kingsville, the west and south shorelines of Pelee.

Environment Canada says the strong winds will persist for most of the day before changing to a more westerly direction.

They are the result of a cold front crossing the Great Lakes.