Latest news with #NorthernTornadoesProject
CTV News
3 days ago
- Climate
- CTV News
A downburst with 115 km/h winds caused damage in Mallorytown, Ont. during Sunday's storm
A massive tree on Junetown Road near Mallorytown was uprooted during Saturday's severe weather. (Jack Richardson/CTV News Ottawa) The storm that caused damage in Mallorytown, Ont. last weekend was caused by a downburst with 115 km/h winds, according to Western University's Northern Tornadoes Project. Tree damage was reported at several properties in the community, located between Brockville and Kingston, Sunday morning after the powerful storm moved through eastern Ontario. Ontario Provincial Police said a man died after a tree fell on a vehicle and a tent at a campground in Mallorytown Sunday morning. A 10-year-old child suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries. After surveying the damage, Western University's Northern Tornadoes Project said an EF0 downburst hit the area with a maximum wind speed of 115 km/h. Officials say intermittent damage was found over an area approximately nine kilometres long and up to five kilometres wide. Mallorytown A sawed-up tree in front of Melissa Saunders' residence in Mallorytown after a severe storm knocked it down early Sunday morning. (Jack Richardson/CTV News Ottawa). Severe thunderstorms rolled through Ottawa and eastern Ontario Saturday night and Sunday morning.
CTV News
3 days ago
- Climate
- CTV News
Wave of supercell thunderstorms across Saskatchewan led to 8 tornadoes in one day
A wave of thunderstorms on June 19 led to an extraordinary display of severe weather across Saskatchewan – which included a total of eight confirmed tornadoes. Crawford Luke is a meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC). He says the combination of an unstable air mass and wind sheer created favourable conditions last Thursday for severe thunderstorms and with them – tornadoes. 'We were dealing with supercell thunderstorms … when we think of some really strong tornadoes and really large hail, those are usually supercell thunderstorms,' he explained. The Northern Tornadoes Project, based out of Western University in Ontario, tracks and records tornado activity across the country and works in collaboration with ECCC. Thursday, June 19 saw tornadoes reported across the province's southeast and east central regions. Three were spotted by residents in the Frobisher and Hirsch areas – east of Estevan. All three events were recorded within a 22-minute period from 4:23 to 4:45 p.m. Another two tornadoes were reported east of Regina, near Kronau and Vibank at around 5:10 and 5:50 that evening. The remaining three tornadoes were more spread out in both time and location – the first touching down near Muskowekwan First Nation at 5:05 p.m., near the community of Young in the Little Manitou Lake area at 6:18 p.m. and finally south of Hubbard at 9:10 p.m. Eight tornadoes touching down in a single province in less than five hours is an uncommon feat, Luke admits, but its not unheard of. 'It's not something we see everyday but every few years or so it seems we get an event like this – where we see a sort of regional tornado outbreak,' he explained. According to Luke, the Northern Tornadoes Project is leading verification efforts in terms of damages. 'There was damage with two tornadoes near Frobisher … some of the damage down there consisted of snapped trees, snapped power poles, and some oil tanks that were thrown,' he explained. Damage to farmyards was also reported in the Kronau and Hubbard areas. So far this year, there have been 12 tornadoes reported in the province. Saskatchewan boasts the second highest yearly average for tornadoes at 15. 'That's actually second most of any Canadian province or territory, its only Ontario that averages more tornadoes per year,' Luke added. 'Saskatchewan is definitely not a stranger to tornadoes – it is definitely a regular occurrence as part of the summer season.' While the province is well on its way to matching or surpassing its yearly average – Luke says its impossible to accurately predict what the final total will be. 'Just noticing that we're at 12 already, the average is 15. We still have a few days left in June, we still have July and August to get through. It seems that, possibly we're on track for a busier than average summer – but again that number can really be inflated by just one or two sort of 'big days' if you will.' Luke encourages anyone who witnesses severe weather, whether it be hail or tornadoes, to contact the agency by using #skstorm on social media or email skstorm@ 'That's a really great way to share weather information with our meteorologists and it really helps them out – gives them an idea of what is actually happening on the ground.'
CBC
5 days ago
- Climate
- CBC
Last week's wild Sask. weather produced 8 confirmed tornadoes in 1 day
Last Thursday's wild weather produced eight confirmed tornadoes across Saskatchewan, according to Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC). "Having eight in one day, that is quite a substantial event, certainly a memorable event for sure," said Crawford Luke, a meteorologist with the agency. Those eight bring the number of confirmed tornadoes for the province this year up to 12. Luke said the province normally sees about 15 in an entire summer — the second most of any province in Canada. "As a general statement, the province of Saskatchewan, it's not a stranger to tornadoes," he said. RAW | Man shares video of tornado he says touched down briefly near Balgonie, Sask. 5 days ago Duration 0:21 Harrison Webster shared this video with CBC News and said he saw a tornado touch down near Balgonie, east of Regina, Thursday afternoon. Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) issued several tornado warnings for parts of Saskatchewan late afternoon on June 19. Supercell thunderstorms were responsible for last week's wild weather, which prompted a slew of emergency alerts for southern Saskatchewan on June 19, urging people to take cover. ECCC worked with the Northern Tornadoes Project, based out of Western University in Ontario, to track and verify the tornadoes using videos and photos. The last several days were spent getting details on the footage and ensuring two videos were not of the same tornado, Luke said. There was some property damage to farms just south of the village of Hubbard, Luke said. The agency is currently investigating that damage to "help determine how strong" those tornadoes might have been. No injuries were reported to ECCC.
CTV News
5 days ago
- Climate
- CTV News
Extreme weather event in northern Ont. last weekend was a downburst, not a tornado
A couple who were evacuated from a provincial park in northeastern Ontario over the weekend along with nearly 300 others due to a damaging storm speaks out. Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park near Mattawa, Ont., is still inaccessible after a weekend storm that caused widespread damage. The storm toppled trees and downed power lines, and some campers had to be rescued. Storm in Calvin Township forced campers at two parks to evacuate Storm in Calvin Township forced campers at two to evacuate. June 21, 2025 (Shana Pitawanakwat-Calixe) 'The storm, which included a microburst, resulted in extensive tree damage and hazardous conditions throughout the park,' officials at the park said on social media Tuesday. 'Emergency workers have been actively working to assess the damage, clear debris and provide assistance to those affected.' While many people speculated that a tornado caused the damage, an official with the Northern Tornadoes Project confirmed that it was a downburst that hit the park – although a downburst that caused tornado-level damage. Canadian Ecology Centre storm rescue A photo from June 22, 2025, by Bill Steer, the founder and general manager of the Canadian Ecology Centre, showing the devastation caused by a severe storm in the area along with rescue efforts to free campers from Samuel de Champlain Park. (Supplied/Bill Steer) Storm damage at Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park Storm damage at Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park. 'Further investigation is needed to determine the full extent and maximum wind speed, though it does appear comparable in intensity with some of the strongest downburst damage that NTP has seen to date,' said Dr. Connell Miller in an email to CTV News. 'Downbursts can cause similar levels of damage to a tornado -- it's just different mechanisms for how that severe level of wind is created.' Officials at Samuel de Champlain said they are working with local and emergency services on recovery efforts. 'Restoration plans are currently being developed,' the park said. 'We anticipate it will be at least a week before the park is accessible. Overnight reservation holders have been notified. To check the status of the closure of Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park, click here.
CTV News
6 days ago
- Climate
- CTV News
Storm cleanup continues in Mallorytown, Ont.
A sawed-up tree in front of Melissa Saunders' residence in Mallorytown after a severe storm knocked it down early Sunday morning. (Jack Richardson/CTV News Ottawa). Cleanup from a severe thunderstorm over the weekend continues in Mallorytown, Ont. as hundreds in the area remain without power. Melissa Saunders woke up to a loud noise around 1:50 a.m. Sunday at her farm along Highway 2, just outside of the village. 'I heard this huge bang, there was a flash of lightning, and I could literally see light come up and down our power line that runs from the hydro line to our house,' Saunders tells CTV News Ottawa. Mallorytown A fallen tree in front of a farm just outside of Mallorytown, Ont. along Highway 2. (Melissa Saunders) 'We woke up in the morning and checked everything out, we've got at least 3 or 4 trees down on fence lines.' According to the Hydro One outage map, approximately 10,000 customers remained without power in eastern Ontario and the Ottawa Valley on Monday. Communities in northeastern Ontario have declared emergencies from the severe storm. According to the Acting Director of Western University's Northern Tornadoes Project, Connell Miller, experts will not be able to confirm whether a tornado touched down for a few days due to the extent of the damage. More details to come
