Environment Canada confirms EF2 tornado was part of deadly Ontario storm
Environment Canada has confirmed that an EF2 tornado touched down in Uxbridge on Saturday as a powerful weather system made its way through Ontario, tearing apart homes and knocking out power to thousands of people.
In a tweet, Western University's Northern Tornadoes Project said the May 21 tornado in Uxbridge was the first wind event in Canada to cause EF2 damage in 2022.
In an update posted Tuesday evening, Environment Canada said the group’s data has officially confirmed that an EF2 tornado was embedded within the leading edge of a derecho, which is a widespread and long-lived windstorm associated with a line of thunderstorms.
Environment Canada said the derecho developed near Sarnia late Saturday morning and tracked northeastward over Southern Ontario, crossing Ottawa Saturday afternoon.
- Download our app to get local alerts to your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
“Damaging wind gusts were reported over a large swath of Southern Ontario as the severe thunderstorms raced through,” Environment Canada said. “After a preliminary analysis of the extensive damage in Uxbridge, Ontario, Western University's Northern Tornadoes Project Team has officially confirmed an EF2 tornado was embedded within the leading edge of the derecho.”
The agency said the tornado occurred near 1:15 p.m. on Saturday afternoon in Uxbridge and was found to have a maximum wind speed of 195 kilometres per hour.
Speaking with CP24, Environment Canada Warning Preparedness Meteorologist Gerald Cheng said the agency detected winds of just 46 kilometres per hour in Sarnia when the storms first tracked into Ontario from Michigan, but they eventually realized a mobile alert was needed as the storm picked up.
“We still issued a severe thunderstorm warning, but what really prompted us to make sure that those severe thunderstorm warnings were part of Alert Ready (warning system) was when we saw the wind gusts at the Kitchener Waterloo Airport; 132 kilometers per hour. At that wind speed up to 20 per cent of your shingles could be gone.”
Cheng said the wind speeds increased very quickly, leaving a small window to notify people.
“When we look at the wind speeds at 12:52 that day Saturday, Pearson reported gusts of 72 kilometres per hour — it’s a windy day. By 1 p.m., 120 kilometers per hour. So that escalated really quickly.
“We issued a warning for the City of Toronto at 12:45. But you can see the lead time wasn't much for people to take cover.”
The violent weather system left 10 people dead, caused extensive damage to trees and buildings and knocked out power to more than 1 million hydro customers in Ontario.
In a news release Tuesday, the City of Toronto said its cleanup efforts related to the storm remain ongoing. It said crews worked through the weekend to respond to storm service requests and that more than 2,900 requests have been received since Saturday.
“As of today, all available resources remain assigned to clean-up work, and there are a total of 45 crews out with cranes, bucket trucks and ground equipment,” they city said. “Crews prioritize responding to hazards to public safety or property. They are clearing roads as well as assisting Toronto Hydro by clearing trees from hydro lines.”
The city said it could still take several weeks to complete non-emergency cleanup work.
A number of municipalities have declared states of emergency, including Whitby, Ajax, Pickering, and Uxbridge.
Cheng noted that severe thunderstorm alerts were only added to the provincial “Alert Ready” system last June and said that while the alerts are useful tools, people need to remain vigilant about the changing weather conditions around them.
“Alerts don't get everybody. Your phone may be off. You may not be watching TV or listening to the radio interrupting broadcasts,” he said. “So it's so important that you know Mother Nature gives us clues, that when the conditions are deteriorating, don't wait for the alert. Take cover and seek shelter immediately, and stay away from tall objects like trees and power poles because they can fall on us.”
He said more outreach is necessary to make sure people remain alert about dangerous weather.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Live updates as Stormy Daniels testifies at Trump hush money trial
Adult film star Stormy Daniels will take the stand a second time Thursday as former U.S. president Donald Trump’s hush money case continues in Manhattan. Follow live updates here.
BREAKING Sheldon Keefe out as head coach of Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs have fired head coach Sheldon Keefe. The team made the announcement Thursday after the Original Six franchise lost to the Boston Bruins in seven games in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Bank of Canada says financial system is stable, but risks remain
The Bank of Canada says the Canadian financial system is stable, but risks remain due to debt servicing costs among households and businesses and stretched valuations of financial assets.
Why these immigrants to Canada say they're thinking about leaving, or have already moved on
For some immigrants, their dreams of permanently settling in Canada have taken an unexpected twist.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
Ontario man frustrated after $3,500 paving job leaves driveway in shambles
An Ontario man considering having his driveway paved received a quote from a company for $7,000, but then, another paver in the neighbourhood knocked on his door and offered half that rate.
RateMDs violates privacy of health professionals, class-action lawsuit claims
A lawsuit against RateMDs has been given the go-ahead by a B.C. Supreme Court judge who found the claim that the website violates the privacy rights of medical professionals is not 'bound to fail.'
Capital gains tax change 'shortsighted' and 'sows division' business groups tell Freeland
Forging ahead with increasing Canada's capital gains inclusion rate 'sows division,' and is a 'shortsighted' way to improve the deficit, business groups are warning Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland.
Court to hear about search for remains as Winnipeg murder trial enters second day
A courtroom in Winnipeg is expected to hear testimony today about the search for the remains of the four victims of Jeremy Skibicki.