List of Canadian tornadoes and tornado outbreaks

Canada's only confirmed F5 tornado, near Elie, Manitoba, 2007.

This page lists tornadoes and tornado outbreaks which have touched down in Canada prior to the 21st century. On average, there are around 80 confirmed and unconfirmed tornadoes that touch down in Canada each year, with most occurring in Southern Ontario, the southern Canadian Prairies and southern Quebec. Canada ranks as the second country in the world with the most tornadoes per year, after the US. The most common types are F0 to F2 in damage intensity level and usually result in minor structural damage to barns, wood fences, roof shingles, chimneys, uprooted or snapped tree limbs and downed power lines. Fewer than 5% of tornadoes in Canada are rated F3 or higher in intensity, where wind speeds are in excess of 225 km/h (140 mph). Prior to April 1, 2013, Canada used a slightly modified Fujita scale, and as of that date the Enhanced Fujita scale, again slightly modified, was put into use to rate tornado intensity, based on the damage to buildings and vegetation.^[1]

Ontario, Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan all average 15 tornadoes per season, followed by Quebec with fewer than 10. New Brunswick and the British Columbia Interior are also recognized tornado zones. All other provinces and territories have significantly less threat from tornadoes. The peak season in Canada is in the summer months when clashing air masses move north, as opposed to the spring season in the United States southern-central plains, although tornadoes in Canada have occurred in spring, fall and very rarely winter.

The reported increase in numbers of tornadoes in recent years may reflect more reporting by citizens and media involvement rather than an actual increase in tornado occurrence (although some natural increase has not been ruled out), in addition to better detection technology i.e. Doppler weather radar and satellite imagery. The upswing could also be attributed to other factors, such as improved aerial and ground damage assessment after the fact in sparsely populated areas (particularly the case in remote parts of the Canadian Prairies and Northern Ontario, for example), better trained spotter capabilities and increased use of digital recording devices by citizens. Tornadoes in Canada are enough of a threat for a public warning system to be in place, overseen by the national weather agency, Environment Canada (EC).

For a variety of reasons, such as Canada's lower population density and generally stronger housing construction due to the colder climate, Canadian tornadoes have historically caused far fewer fatalities than tornadoes in the United States. The deadliest tornado in Canadian history, the Regina Cyclone of June 30, 1912, does not even rank in the top 25 when compared to American tornado fatalities. Urban centres are not immune from the threat of severe tornadoes. Nine medium to large size Canadian cities have been hit by significant strength tornadoes (F3 or higher), which caused large-scale damage and fatalities: Regina (1912); Windsor (1946 and 1974); Sarnia (1953); Sudbury (1970); Woodstock (1979); London (1984); Barrie (1985); Edmonton (1987); and Goderich (2011).

All figures for damages are in Canadian dollars.

Before 1880

1792

• June 30 - the first recorded tornado in Canadian history affected the Niagara Peninsula between Fonthill and Port Robinson, Ontario. It levelled houses and uprooted many trees. In fact, the tornado cut a path of trees in a west to east line from both communities that became known as "Hurricane Road", which still exists today.^[2]

1829

• April 18 - an area between Collingwood and Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, were affected by tornadoes, one of which lifted a saloon up into the air.
• June 2 - the early settlement of Guelph, Ontario is destroyed by a strong tornado. Re-settlement does not begin for a few years afterwards.
• August 7 - first known and confirmed tornado death in Canada happened in Galt, Ontario which is now Cambridge.

1860

• May 19 - homes, fences and trees were demolished by a 500 m (1,600 ft) wide tornado near Aurora, Ontario. Hailstones up to 8 cm (3.1 in) in diameter also fell.

1870

• July 16 - a tornado touched down in Montreal, Quebec. It only lasted five minutes and destroyed everything in its path. There was one unconfirmed death.^[3]

1879

• August 6 - a suspected F3 tornado touched down near Bouctouche, New Brunswick. The twister killed five people, injured ten and left twenty-five families homeless. It is considered to be the easternmost major tornado in North America.

1880s

1880

• June 10 - a 200 m (660 ft) wide tornado in Listowel, Ontario lifts a man up into the air. He grabs on to a bridge to save himself.

1884

• May 15 - a suspected F4 tornado hits Elora, Ontario. It was 500 m (1,600 ft) wide and destroyed barns, fences and stables. It also damaged a church and cemetery in Mapleton, Ontario.

1885

• June 7 - houses and orchards in North Middlesex and St. Thomas, Ontario were damaged when a tornado touched down and hail up to 10 cm (3.9 in) in diameter fell.

1888

• June 6 - a tornado affected an area between Cornwall, Ontario and Montreal, Quebec, taking three lives and destroying five hundred farms, barns and outbuildings.^[4]
• August 16 - a tornado crossed from South Glengarry, Ontario into Saint-Zotique, Quebec, and then onto Salaberry-de-Valleyfield. It caused extensive property damage, taking nine lives and injuring sixteen. It is considered the fifth deadliest tornado to ever hit Canada.^[5]

1890s

1892

• June 14 - a tornado hits Sainte-Rose, Quebec. Listed as the ninth deadliest tornado in Canadian history, six people die and twenty-six are injured.
• June 29 - a tornado touched down in London, Ontario, destroying barns and orchards.

1898

• September 26 - a tornado hits Merritton, Ontario, (now St. Catharines), killing five and injuring dozens of others. It left a 72 km (45 mi) path of destruction, ending near Tonawanda (city), New York.^[6]

1900s

1909

• July 16 - an F3 tornado strikes near the settlement of Golden Valley, Saskatchewan, injuring four.

1910s

1912

• June 30 - Canada's deadliest twister hits Regina, Saskatchewan. Known as the Regina Cyclone, it was an F4 tornado that devastated the city. More than 300 people are injured and 28 people killed. The total cost of damage was estimated to be around $4.5 million.

1915

• June 25 - a tornado struck near Medicine Hat, Alberta. The business section of Redcliff was also severely damaged, and a freight train was blown off the tracks. The storm took two lives and injured many others.^[7]

1918

• No date - a tornado touched down near Vermilion, Alberta, destroying a log house. Three children were killed, and one woman was carried 27 m (30 yd).^[8]

1920s

1920

• July 22 - a strong tornado passes through a large portion of southeastern Saskatchewan, killing four people and injuring over a dozen. The Canadian Red Cross provided relief on behalf of the government to 42 affected families in Alameda, Frobisher, Lampman, Steelman, and Estevan.^[9]

1922

• June 23 - multiple tornadoes strike Southern Manitoba, killing 5 people and injuring hundreds. Damage was estimated near $2 million.^[10]
• July 21 - a tornado hits near Crystal Springs, Saskatchewan, lifting a house and dropping it in a field nearby.
• August 15 - an F3 tornado touches down near Eastend, Saskatchewan, killing two and injuring four.

1923

• June 24 - a tornado touches down near Hornby, Ontario, (present-day Halton Hills). It travels eastward almost 20 km (12 mi) before dissipating near Cooksville, close to the centre of present-day Mississauga.

1926

• July 12 - a rare tornado touched down in Lac la Hache, British Columbia, destroying farm buildings and knocking down trees.

1927

• June 18 - a tornado picked up a house in Elfros, Saskatchewan, killing one person. The damage path lasted for 11 km (6.8 mi).
• July 7 - a strong tornado struck Vulcan, Alberta, causing significant damage in the town and surrounding area. A curling rink was destroyed, along with a dairy farm and a granary. Luckily there were no injuries.

1930s

1935

• July 1 - a strong F4 tornado strikes Benson, Saskatchewan.
• July 6 - an F3 tornado touches down near Smiley, Saskatchewan, leaving a 10 km (6.2 mi) path and killing two people.^[11]

1936

• July 6 - a tornado destroyed buildings and tossed farm equipment near Lavoy, Alberta, about 100 km (62 mi) east of Edmonton.^[12]

1939

• June 11 - a tornado touched down near Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, knocking down trees and blowing off roofs.

1940s

1944

• July 1 - two tornadoes strike Lebret, Saskatchewan, killing four people.
• August 9 - locally known as the "Kamsack Cyclone", a tornado touches down in Kamsack, Saskatchewan, destroying 400 homes and 100 businesses. Three people were killed and many more injured.^[13]

1946

• June 17 - the third deadliest tornado in Canadian history strikes the towns of Windsor and Tecumseh, Ontario. Known as the 1946 Windsor–Tecumseh tornado, it was given an F4 rating and killed 17 people. Damage estimates at the time exceeded $9 million.^[14]
• June 24 - a tornado that touched down in International Falls, Minnesota, crossed the border and struck Fort Frances, Ontario. It was given an F3 rating and dissipated near Rainy River, Ontario.
• December 12 - the small community of Exeter, Ontario, north of London, is struck by an F2 tornado.

1948

• March 19 - a tornado strikes the Windsor, Ontario area. This is the earliest tornado in the year for the province until 2016.

1949

• July 19 - the small village of Chénéville, Quebec was devastated by a tornado which lasted about three minutes.

1950s

1950

• September 1 - a tornado cut an 80 km (50 mi) path from Rycroft to Eaglesham, Alberta damaging crops, farm machinery and farm buildings.
• November - a tornado was reported near Regina, Saskatchewan.

1953

• May 21 - an F4 tornado touches down in Sarnia, Ontario, leaving 7 people dead, over 40 injured, and 500 homeless. The path was estimated to be over 150 km (93 mi) long through Michigan and Ontario.

1954

• January 30 - a very rare mid-winter tornado touched down near White Point, Nova Scotia.^[15]

1955

• April 25 - a tornado touched down near Nanaimo, British Columbia, causing minor damage in the south end of the city.

1958

• January 1 - a tornado was spotted near Amaranth, Manitoba.^[16]
• April 16 - a tornado hits Watrous, Saskatchewan, destroying a large barn and scattering pigs up to 5 km (3.1 mi) away.

1959

• June 6 - a tornado destroyed a garage in La Salle, Manitoba, yet the car inside the garage was not damaged. The tornado could be seen 15 km (9.3 mi) away in Winnipeg.

1960s

1962

• July 1 - a small tornado is observed near Vancouver, British Columbia. It's the third tornado recorded since the weather office opened in 1929.

1963

• June 29 - a large tornado touched down near Spy Hill, Saskatchewan, 260 km (160 mi) northwest of Regina, destroying multiple houses and damaging property. One man was killed when he was sucked out of his house. The tornado travelled 6.4 km (4 mi), and left a 1.6 km (1 mi) wide path of destruction.^[17]

1966

• March 7 - an unconfirmed tornado touched down in Ucluelet, British Columbia, causing significant damage. The tornado drove a metal spike through a classroom window into a blackboard.
• June 10 - a small tornado touched down near Nanton, Alberta, tearing trees and narrowly missing ranch buildings.^[18]

1967

• April 17 - a total of four tornadoes, two being F3 in strength, touched down in Southwestern Ontario, causing at least $8.2 million in damage. The first tracked through Huron and Perth counties, flattening barns and homes, and snapping multiple trees and utility poles. The second F3 tracked from St. Jacobs to northwest of Guelph. Two F0 tornadoes were also confirmed and one person was killed.^[19][20]

1968

• April 11 - a weak tornado hits Watson, Saskatchewan destroying a garage.

1970s

1970

• August 20 - an early morning the F3 tornado, touches down near Sudbury, Ontario, causing extensive damage in the city, as well as in the suburban communities of Lively and Copper Cliff and the more distant rural community of Field. Lively was the hardest hit, with over 300 homes damaged. The communities were given little warning of bad weather approaching, as the Sudbury Airport did not have radar that detected tornado activity. Over 200 people were injured and 6 were killed. The damage was estimated at $17 million, and it is listed as the eighth deadliest tornado in Canadian history.^[21]

1972

• July 22 - a tornado near Algonquin Provincial Park left a 25 km (16 mi) path destroying a portage trail and wide swaths of red pine forest and other trees south of Lake Lavieille.
• July 28 - a tornado tore through farmland near Bawlf, Alberta, destroying a two-storey house and several farm buildings. Three people were injured.^[22]

1973

• July 5 - a tornado touched down near Kelvington, Saskatchewan.
• July 13 - a tornado touched down in Brighton, Ontario in the early evening hours. The twister only lasted 32 seconds, but destroyed the city hall and toppled most maple trees along Main Street. The Presbyterian Church also lost its steeple. Luckily only one person was injured.^[23]
• August 27 - Algonquin Provincial Park is hit with another tornado near Lake Manitou, flattening an 11 km (6.8 mi) long path of forest.

1974

• April 3 - Windsor, Ontario is hit with an F3 tornado, part of the 1974 Super Outbreak. Total deaths were nine and over twenty people were injured with an estimated $500,000 in damage. It is listed as the sixth deadliest tornado in Canadian history.^[24]

1975

• July 24 - a strong tornado hits Saint-Bonaventure, Quebec destroying 100 homes and businesses, including the water tower. A woman and her two children were killed, and over forty people were hospitalized.^[25]

1977

• July 18 - an F4 tornado touched down near St. Malo, Manitoba, destroying houses and barns. Asphalt was peeled off Highway 59 as a result of the strong winds. Three people were killed.^[26]

1978

• June 27 - an F2 tore through the city of Masson-Angers, Quebec, (today part of Gatineau), damaging 100 homes and injuring 35 people.
• July 30 - an F2 tornado touches down near Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, toppling a tower and then destroying a transmission tower near Rae-Edzo. Some witnesses say that they saw a huge 1.6 km (1 mi) wide wedge coming into town from the west. The tornado caused severe damage to weakly built houses. It was the third recorded tornado in the region since 1960.^[27]

1979

• July 10 - a tornado stuck the town of Glasnevin, Saskatchewan, killing one person.^[28]
• August 7 - three tornadoes strike near the Woodstock, Ontario area, causing more than $100 million in damage. The biggest were two F4 tornadoes; one starting in Woodstock and travelling southeast for 57 km (35 mi), the other starting in the south of Stratford, tearing a path southeast for 31 km (19 mi). Interestingly, an F0 satellite tornado accompanied the Woodstock tornado for up to 21 km (13 mi). The storms killed 2 and injured more than 150, while 480 houses were left uninhabitable.
• August 8 - a tornado touched down in Regina, Saskatchewan, causing damage in the northwest end of the city. Two tornadoes were spotted that day, with one reaching F2 status, but is unconfirmed.^[29]

1980s

1980

• April 6 - an F0 tornado touched down near Altona, Manitoba, 115 km (71 mi) southwest of Winnipeg.^[30]
• May 5 - an F1 tornado was confirmed north of Stratford, Ontario, leaving a path of damage 4.1 km (2.5 mi) in length.^[30]
• May 23 - two tornadoes touch down; an F0 near Schuler, and an F1 near Hilda, Alberta^[30]
• May 25 - two F1 tornadoes hit near Aden and Cereal, Alberta. An F0 was also confirmed near Hilda.^[30]
• May 25 - four tornadoes were confirmed, three being rated as F1 in strength. They hit near the communities of Creelman, Carnduff and Bellegarde, Saskatchewan. The other tornado, an F0, was confirmed near Dubuc. No major damage was reported.^[30]
• May 26 - an F0 tornado touched down near Quill Lake, Saskatchewan.^[30]
• May 28 - an F0 tornado was confirmed 16 km (9.9 mi) south of Morden, Manitoba.^[30]
• May 31 - a late afternoon F0 tornado touched down leaving a 26 km (16 mi) path of damage from Georgetown to Woodbridge, Ontario. No injures were reported, but the damage cost was an estimated $900,000.^[30]
• June 2 - Environment Canada confirmed an F0 tornado touched down near Grassy Lake, Alberta causing no damage.^[30]
• June 9 - an F0 tornado touched down leaving a 50 m (160 ft) damage path near Whitby, Ontario. Minimal damage was reported.^[30]
• June 11 - Foremost, Alberta was stuck by an F1 tornado, causing no damage.^[30]
• June 11 - an F0 tornado was confirmed near Estevan, Saskatchewan.
• June 23 - three F1 tornadoes touched down in East Central Saskatchewan near the towns of Invermay, Francis and Ebenezer. No major damage was reported.^[30]
• July 6 - an F1 tornado touched down near Prince Albert, Saskatchewan.^[30]
• July 10 - a late night F1 tornado was confirmed between Fairy Glen, and Gronlid, Saskatchewan, causing no damage.^[30]
• July 14 - an F0 tornado touched down near Sylvan Lake, Alberta, 20 km (12 mi) west of Red Deer.^[30]
• July 15 - an F0 tornado hit near the town of Wellesley, Ontario, 28 km (17 mi) northwest of Kitchener, leaving a 1.5 km (0.93 mi) path and causing approximately $50,000 in damage. No injuries were reported.^[30]
• July 16 - an evening F1 tornado stuck the town on LaSalle, Ontario, damaging property along a 6.3 km (3.9 mi) path. Luckily no injures were reported, but the damage cost was an estimated $500,000.^[30]
• July 22 - a rare F0 tornado was confirmed, touching down near the town of Roseway, Nova Scotia.^[30]
• July 26 - an F0 tornado struck the Pinaymootang First Nation, in Fairford, Manitoba.^[30]
• July 28 - North Battleford, Saskatchewan was hit with an F0 tornado causing no damage.^[30]
• July 29 - an F0 tornado touched down near Bowsman, Manitoba just before midnight. No damage was reported.^[30]
• August 8 - an F0 tornado left a 3.2 km (2.0 mi) track near Wheatley, Ontario. No injuries were reported.^[30]
• August 8 - an F2 tornado touched down in Le Petit-Aigle, Quebec, injuring one person.^[30]
• August 9 - Roberval, Quebec was hit with a small F0 tornado.^[30]
• August 9 - an F0 tornado touched down near Maple Green, New Brunswick.^[30]
• August 10 - an F0 tornado was confirmed near Aldersyde, Alberta^[30]
• August 11 - two F0 tornadoes touched down in Southern Ontario, the first confirmed near North Woodslee. The second touched down in Port Dover, leaving an estimated $20,000 of damage along a 2.5 km (1.6 mi) path.^[30]
• August 14 - the province was hit with five tornadoes, the largest given an F2 rating and touching down in London. It was on the ground for approximately 3.2 km (2.0 mi) and caused an estimated $100,000 in damage. The other four tornadoes were given F0 ratings and touched down in Eastern Ontario, near the towns of Springfield, Meath, Kirk Cove and Stanleyville.^[30]
• August 15 - Prince Edward Island experienced a rare F0 tornado, touching down near Strathgartney and leaving a 4.6 km (2.9 mi) path.^[30]
• August 16 - an F0 tornado was confirmed near Northport, Nova Scotia^[30]
• August 25 - an F0 tornado cut a 10.4 km (6.5 mi) path though Neskantaga First Nation in Northern Ontario^[30]
• September 2 - an F2 tornado was one of three confirmed in the province of Ontario, touching down near Jarratt. An F1 also touched down in South Lancaster, and an F0 was confirmed near Houghton Centre.^[30]
• September 22 - six tornadoes touched down in Ontario causing upwards of $750,000 in damage. Two F1 tornadoes were confirmed in Woodbridge and Blenheim, and four F0 tornadoes touched down in Stratford, Primrose, Mariposa and Lakefield. No injuries were reported.^[30]
• September 25 - an F2 tornado hit near Teeswater, Ontario, and was on the ground for over 10 km (6.2 mi).^[30]
• September 28 - an F0 tornado was confirmed in Cape Traverse, Prince Edward Island.^[30]

1980 Confirmed Tornadoes AB SK MB ON QC NB NS PE 9 12 4 24 2 1 2 2

1980 Tornado Strengths F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 36 16 4 0 0 0

1981

• March 30 - two early season tornadoes were confirmed in Southern Ontario. An F1 tornado touched down near Bothwell, and an F0 hit near Hickson. No injuries were reported.^[31]
• May 28 - an F0 tornado touched down near Wakaw, Saskatchewan.^[31]
• June 3 - Midland, Ontario was hit with an F0 tornado causing no damage.^[31]
• June 4 - an F0 tornado touched down near Melita, Manitoba.^[31]
• June 5 - two tornadoes hit the province of Alberta near the towns of Landonville and Clandonald. They were given ratings of F1 and F0, respectively.^[31]
• June 6 - an F1 tornado left a 15 km (9.3 mi) path through Haliburton County, Ontario, near the town of Harcourt.^[31]
• June 6 - an F1 tornado touched down near Clandonald, Alberta, it was the second tornado in two days.^[31]
• June 10 - an F0 tornado was confirmed near the town of Acton, Ontario, and stayed on the ground for 5.6 km (3.5 mi)^[31]
• June 16 - two F0 tornadoes touched down near the hamlets of Gallivan, and Delmas, Saskatchewan.^[31]
• July 1 - an F0 tornado was confirmed in extreme southeastern part of the province, near the town of Carnduff, Saskatchewan.^[31]
• July 3 - an F0 tornado touched down near the former town of Grandview, Manitoba.^[31]
• July 8 - an strong F2 tornado touched down in the community of Scotchtown, New Brunswick, causing an estimated C$10,000 in damage. No injuries were reported.^[31]
• July 13 - an F1 tornado touched down in West Edmonton, Alberta. No damage or injuries were reported.^[31]
• July 14 - an F0 tornado was confirmed near the village of Boyle, Alberta.^[31][31]
• July 14 - an F0 tornado touched down near Govan, Saskatchewan.^[31]
• July 14 - an F0 tornado touched down near the unincorporated community of Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes, Manitoba.^[31]
• July 15 - a powerful F2 tornado hit outside the hamlet of Rivière Qui Barre, Alberta, 34.6 km (21.5 mi) northwest of Edmonton.^[31]
• July 18 - an F0 tornado touched down near Bond Head.^[31]
• July 19 - three F0 tornadoes cut across Ontario, one leaving a 9.7 km (6.0 mi) path near Thornhill. The other two touched down near Maple and Arden.^[31]
• July 25 - an F0 tornado was confirmed near Sangudo, Alberta^[31]
• July 28 - an F0 tornado touched down in the municipality of Torch River, Saskatchewan, 140 km (87 mi) northeast of Prince Albert.^[31]
• July 29 - Regina, Saskatchewan was hit with a weak F0 tornado.^[31]
• August 4 - an F0 tornado was confirmed near Bradford, Ontario, causing no damage.^[31]
• August 5 - two tornadoes touch down in Saskatchewan; an F1 near Kronau and an F0 near Aylesbury.^[31]
• August 8 - an F0 tornado touched down in Brantford, Ontario.^[31]
• August 11 - an F0 tornado caused an estimated $200,000 in damage near Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario.^[31]
• August 16 - an F0 tornado was confirmed near Pense, Saskatchewan^[31]
• August 17 - an F1 tornado touched down near Hughton, Saskatchewan^[31]
• August 22 - two F0 tornadoes were confirmed near Wadena, Saskatchewan and Stenen^[31]
• August 30 - an F0 tornado touched down near Plumas, Manitoba.^[31]
• September 10 - three tornadoes touched down in Eastern Ontario in the early evening hours. The strongest, an F1, hit near Shannonville, leaving a 12.8 km (8.0 mi) path. The other two were given F0 ratings and touched down on Howe Island, and near Adolphustown.^[31]
• September 13 - Ontario, an F0 tornado was confirmed near Sarnia.^[31]

1981 Confirmed Tornadoes BC AB SK MB ON QC NB 0 7 13 4 16 0 1

1981 Tornado Strengths F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 31 8 2 0 0 0

1982

• April 14 - an F1 tornado touched down near Adamsville, Quebec.^[32]
• April 30 - an F0 tornado was confirmed near Cudworth, Saskatchewan, 85 km (53 mi) northeast of Saskatoon.^[32]
• May 7 - an F0 tornado touched down near Coutts, Alberta.^[32]
• May 13 - two tornadoes were confirmed in the province of Alberta; an F1 touched down near Mayerthorpe, and an F0 hit near Fort Assiniboine.^[32]
• May 28 - an F0 tornado touched down near Dobbinton, Ontario, causing and estimated C$2,000 in damages.^[32]
• May 29 - Magnolia, Alberta was hit with an F0 tornado.^[32]
• June 2 - an F1 tornado was confirmed near Gainford, Alberta.^[32]
• June 2 - an F0 tornado touched down near Prince Albert, Saskatchewan.^[32]
• June 5 - an F0 tornado was confirmed in Delisle, Saskatchewan.^[32]
• June 6 - Prince Albert, Saskatchewan was hit with an F0 tornado.^[32]
• June 6 - an F1 tornado was confirmed near Entwistle, Alberta.^[32]
• June 15 - an F0 touched down near Parkbeg, Saskatchewan^[32]
• June 15 - four tornadoes were confirmed in Southern Ontario, after active weather swept through the province. An F1 hit near Strathroy, and three F0 tornadoes touched down near Chatham, Burford and Port Burwell. The tornado near Burford was on the ground for approximately 11 kilometres (6.8 mi).^[32]
• June 22 - an F1 tornado struck Mississauga, Ontario, and an F0 tornado was confirmed near Exeter.^[32]
• June 30 - four strong tornadoes ripped through parts of Alberta, with the strongest, an F3, destroying a farm 15 km (9.3 mi) southeast of Rocky Mountain House. It also destroyed a mobile home, injuring one person, and left an estimated C$500,000 in damages.^[33] An F2 tornado also struck 24 km (15 mi) north of Viking, and two F1 twisters were confirmed 12 km (7.5 mi) northeast of Lacombe and near Kinsella.^[32]
• July 1 - an F1 tornado touched down near Golden Prairie, Saskatchewan^[32]
• July 1 - an F1 tornado was confirmed near Consort, Alberta causing no damage.^[32]
• July 6 - an F0 tornado touched down near Langdon, Alberta^[32]
• July 11 - Clive, Alberta was hit with an F0 tornado.^[32]
• July 14 - ten tornadoes were confirmed in Alberta after storms swept through the province. Six tornadoes were given F0 ratings and touched down near the communities of Jackfish Lake, Benalto, Sylvan Lake, Wetaskiwin, Sherwood Park and Vegrevelle. The other 4 were given higher F1 ratings and struck near Barhead, Duffield, Stoney Plain, and Lacombe. No injuries were reported.^[32]
• July 16 - an F1 tornado was confirmed near Colgate, Saskatchewan^[32]
• July 16 - six tornadoes swept through Manitoba in the evening hours. They were all rated as F0 on the Fujita Scale and touched down near the communities of Emerson, Hadashville, Melita, St. Alphonse and Morden. The sixth was confirmed 32 kilometres (20 mi) southwest of Portage la Prairie.^[32]
• July 18 - an F0 tornado touched down near Lucky Lake, Alberta.^[32]
• July 18 - an F0 tornado was confirmed near Crows Landing, Ontario.^[32]
• July 19 - Bathurst, New Brunswick was hit with an F1 tornado.^[32]
• July 19 - an F1 tornado struck near Carrot River, Saskatchewan.^[32]
• July 30 - an F0 tornado was confirmed near Rocky Mountain House, Alberta.^[32]

1982 Confirmed Tornadoes BC AB SK MB ON QC NB 0 25 8 6 8 1 1

1982 Tornado Strengths F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 31 16 1 1 0 0

1983

• May 2 - seven tornadoes touched down in Southern Ontario, mainly in Lambton County and Toronto. Causing C$22.2 million in damages and injuring 14 people, no fatalities occurred.^[34][35]

• Walpole Island saw an F2 tornado, it injured one person and it lasted 15 km (9.3 mi) on ground and causing C$1 million in damages.^[34][35]
• Reece's Corners was the strongest tornado rated an F4, 13 people where injured and many more left homeless. The F4 tornado was on the ground for 30 km (19 mi), and was up to 400 m (1,300 ft) in width, damages were C$20.0 million,^[34] with 15 to 25 buildings destroyed. Winds topped out near 400 km/h (250 mph).^[35]
• Kettleby was hit with an F2 tornado, that lasted 10.5 km (6.5 mi) on the ground, no major damage or injuries were reported.^[34][35]
• Rexdale a informally-defined district of Toronto, saw three F0. They lasted on the ground from 5.87 to 9.93 km (3.65 to 6.17 mi). One of the tornadoes caused C$1.2 million in damages, no injuries were reported.^[34]

• July 8 - a large tornado touched down near Blackfoot, Alberta.^[36]

1984

• June 29 - a tornado touched down near Athabasca, Alberta, destroying granaries and farm equipment. One person suffered serious injuries.
• May 12 - a small tornado touched down near the town of Whitewood, Saskatchewan.
• June 18 - a tornado struck Eastern Ontario near the town of Westport. It severely damaged a small group of buildings.
• July 8 - a tornado was confirmed near the towns of St. Claude and Rosenort, Manitoba, just east of Winnipeg.
• July 15 - tornadoes touched down in the Pontiac and Gatineau, Quebec regions. Many buildings were damaged, and cottages completely destroyed. Thirty-eight people were injured by flying debris.^[37]
• August 14 - a tornado hit the north part of Toronto, Ontario causing millions in damage.^[37]
• September 2 - six confirmed tornadoes touched down in Ontario, known as the Southwest Ontario Tornado Outbreak of 1984. Most were near the city of London. Thirty people were injured.

1985

• May 20 - an F0 tornado touched down near St Raphael de Bellechasse, Quebec.
• May 31 - an F4 tornado hits Barrie, Ontario, becoming known as the "Barrie" Tornado Outbreak of 1985. It was part of the bigger 1985 United States–Canada tornado outbreak. There were 13 confirmed tornado touchdowns in the province. Twelve people were killed, eight in Barrie alone, and hundreds injured. The tornado destroyed more than 300 buildings, and damaged another 100, leaving 800 homeless. The cost was estimated at over $100 million. Another four people were killed by a tornado that struck close to Grand Valley, Orangeville and Tottenham. That tornado had a touchdown path length of over 100 km (62 mi). Another confirmed F0 tornado hit the Leamington area, as part outbreak.
• June 18 - an F3 tornado is confirmed in the town of Saint-Sylvère, Quebec.
• July 6 - an F1 tornado hits the communities of Lacolle and Hemmingford, Quebec (village).
• July 7 - an F1 tornado hit the Meadowvale area of Mississauga, Ontario injuring 10 and causing $400,000 damage.
• September 7 - a tornado touched down near Big Rideau Lake, Ontario. The storm killed one person when it overturned a houseboat cruising on the lake.^[38]
• October 4, a weak tornado touched down in Wheatley, Ontario.

1986

• June 1 - three tornadoes touched down in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. There was no official ratings given for the tornadoes, although some damage indicated F3 strength winds. Roofs were thrown off houses and a warehouse was destroyed. No one was injured, and damage was estimated at over $1 million.
• June 16 - severe storms produced an F3 tornado that travelled from Brady Lake to Maynooth, Ontario. Two other tornadoes were also reported.^[39]
• June 16 - an F3 tornado was confirmed near Lac Gareau, Quebec. It severely damaged summer chalets and overturned a truck. Two other tornadoes were reported further east. This was from the same weather system that affected Ontario earlier in the day.^[39]
• June 18 - two tornadoes touched down near High Prairie, Alberta, tossing farm equipment and tearing the roof off a house.^[40]
• June 24 - a tornado touched down in Tingwick, Quebec, damaging 12 properties.^[41]
• June 30 - one tornado touched down near Stirling, Alberta near Lethbridge, and another tore through Cayley, 60 km (37 mi) south of Calgary. The tornadoes destroyed a storage shed, tossed a van across the yard, and hurled a large horse against a barbed wire fence. No injuries were reported.^[42]
• July 9 - three tornadoes briefly touched down throughout Central Alberta. Two were spotted near Penhold and one reported south of Sylvan Lake.^[43]
• July 15 - one person was killed from an F0 tornado near Maniwaki, Quebec.
• July 29 - four tornadoes touched down in central Saskatchewan, causing minimal damage.^[44]

1987

• May 28 - an F0 tornado strikes the community of Glen-Sutton, Quebec.^[45]
• June 8 - an F1 tornado is confirmed near the town of Fort-Coulonge, Quebec, causing minor damage.
• July 26 - an F1 twister is confirmed near the town of Kinnear's Mills, Quebec.
• July 31 - one of Canada's strongest tornadoes, an F4, ripped through the eastern part of Edmonton, and parts of neighbouring Leduc County and Strathcona County. Known as the Edmonton tornado, it left 27 dead, and 253 injured. It was the second deadliest tornado in Canadian history. Seven other tornadoes were also confirmed around in the Edmonton Area and Central Alberta on the same day; a F1 in southeast Edmonton, F2 near Beaumont, a F2 between Millet and Vegreville,^[46] causing $40,000 in damages and four given an F0 rating^[46][47][48]

1988

• May 1 - a weak unconfirmed tornado grazes eastern Vancouver, British Columbia.

1989

• June 19 - eight tornadoes touch down over central Saskatchewan, with winds gusting up to 130 km/h (81 mph). Hail shredded crops near Blaine Lake.
• July 27 - a series of severe thunderstorms spawned an F1 tornado in the west end of Edmonton, Alberta.^[31][49] The tornado injured two people, and damaged buildings and uprooted trees and power lines. It caused $500,000 in damages.^[50][51]
• August 14 - three tornadoes touch down in the province of New Brunswick. One of the tornadoes hits the town of Carlisle where trees are uprooted and a barn is destroyed. Amazingly 22 out of 24 glass storm windows stored inside the barn are left undamaged.
• November 16 - an F2 tornado causes $2 million in damage in the community of Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Quebec. This is the latest in the year a tornado is recorded in the province.

1990s

1990

• June 28 - a large tornado touched down south of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
• August 28 - Southern Ontario was hit by three tornadoes, in an outbreak associated with the 1990 Plainfield tornado. The strongest tornado was an F3, which hit near the Port Stanley area destroying 10 homes in Frome, and Barns near St. Thomas and Delaware killing several horses. An F2 tornado also struck Komoka, near London destroying a church, and an F1 tornado touched down near the small town of Kendal, just north of Newtonville. Luckily only six minor injuries were reported.^[52]

1991

• March 27 - an early season tornado strikes Sarnia, Ontario, causing over $25 million in damage.^[53]
• August 27 - an F3 tornado touched down in Mauricie region. The town of Maskinongé was hardest hit among three communities, with 60% of buildings damaged. Fifteen people were injured and estimated damage cost upwards of $25 million.^[54]

1992

• June 24 - tornadoes, large hail and torrential downpours affected southern Manitoba. Tennis ball sized hail fell near Morden and winds gusting to 154 km/h (96 mph) were recorded at Pilot Mound. There were also five confirmed tornado touchdowns and numerous funnel clouds in Manitoba that day, including some very crisp video footage of one rope tornado tearing up farmland near Portage la Prairie. The region had been affected by severe weather the day before as well.

1993

• July 29 - a series of violent thunderstorms tracked across Central Alberta, spawning three tornadoes. The strongest of which was an F3 in Holden, 90 km (56 mi) east of Edmonton. An F0 touched down in near Falun, east of Pigeon Lake and an F1 tornado was reported 60 km (37 mi) northeast of Lac La Biche.

1994

• July 9 - one person was killed when an F2 tore through the town of Saint-Charles-sur-Richelieu, Quebec. Three other people were injured, about a dozen homes were damaged.
• August 4 - an F3 tornado touches down in Aylmer, Quebec across the river from Ottawa, injures 15 people. The tornado path was 8 km (5.0 mi) long and caused major damage to a downtown residential subdivision including homes destroyed. A second tornado had previously touched down just across the Ottawa River in Carp. In Quebec, other tornadoes touched down near Laurel and Rawdon^[55]
• August 27 - F4 tornado hits rural farmland near Turtle Mountain, Manitoba. Devastation especially visible at Mayfair Hutterite Colony, well over $1 million in damage. There were no injuries or deaths.

1995

• June 20 - thunderstorms rumbled for 7 hours over Manitoba producing 90 km/h (56 mph) winds which blew trees and power lines over. The storm even produced a weak tornado.
• July 15 - a large progressive derecho thunderstorm produced severe winds over an expansive area of the central Great Lakes and New England overnight also contained at least six tornadoes that hit Central Ontario, most centred or to the north of the Kawartha Lakes. The strongest was an F2 tornado that destroyed a marina at Bridgenorth and overturned a houseboat on Lake Chemong, trapping 20 occupants for a few hours until they were rescued, just north of Peterborough. One person was killed in Bridgenorth.
• July 26 - a tornado in Fredericton, New Brunswick took the roof off a government building and damaged a tennis court dome.
• August 14 - a tornado touches down near Barrie, Ontario.
• August 29 - several farms were destroyed when a tornado lasting a couple of minutes affected Spring Valley, Saskatchewan, near Moose Jaw.

1996

• April 20 - Multiple tornadoes hit Grey, Wellington and Dufferin counties. Two F3 class tornadoes touched down in Grey County (Williamsford), Wellington County and Dufferin County. Significant property damage occurred; nine people were injured by the two tornadoes.
• May 20 - a strong thunderstorm damages one of the four screens of a drive-in theatre at Thorold, Ontario in the Niagara Region. Coincidentally, this drive-in was planning to show the movie Twister that evening. Eyewitnesses report seeing a small funnel cloud, but the physical evidence is inconclusive. Distorted and exaggerated media reports of this event abound; most claimed that the storm blew down the screen while Twister was being shown on it. The storm actually took place before sundown. However, a small tornado did touchdown in Stoney Creek that same evening.
• July 4 - an estimated nine tornadoes touch down in the Saskatoon, Maymont and Osler, Saskatchewan areas in. An F3 was measured in the Maymont area destroying power lines. Homes and property were damaged in the Osler area. Wind gusts in Saskatoon reached 120 km/h (75 mph) and 141 km/h (88 mph) damaging many trees and properties on the east end of the city. A drive-in theatre and a nightclub on the eastern outskirts of the city were also heavily damaged and ironically the movie that was going to be shown at the drive-in was Twister.

1997

• June 24 - Lantz, Nova Scotia, F0 tornado touches down in local ball field at approximately 4:45 pm ADT (UTC−03:00). Golf ball sized hail and intense lightning also reported with this storm.
• July 2 - Southeast Michigan tornado outbreak F1, F2, F3 Windsor and surrounding areas. See article for more in-depth information.
• July 4 - an F2 Tornado touches down near Grand Falls, New Brunswick, roof torn off building. Farmers fields ripped up. The same line of storms also dropped an F2 Tornado in Matapédia (New Brunswick/Quebec border), where a couple of barns were destroyed.

1998

• June 2 - during a wider severe weather outbreak (derecho thunderstorm) that struck Southern Ontario in the mid-afternoon, an F1 tornado descended near Holbrook around 3:50 pm EDT (UTC−04:00) and travelled southeastward to Norwich, damaging many buildings, including a church. There were also tornado reports in Elmvale and Dunnville, and several reports of funnel clouds, hail, and high winds.
• July 10 - an F2 tornado touched down in Charleston, New Brunswick, leaving a 90 m (300 ft) by 7 km (4.3 mi) path of damage. Total destruction of a mobile home which was thrown 30 m (98 ft). Minor injuries to residents in home.
• July 19 - a weak tornado hit Daysland, Alberta, about 50 km (31 mi) east of Camrose. The tornado damaged power lines, knocking out power to surrounding communities.
• August 11 - a small F1 tornado goes through part of Saint-Émile, Quebec City, in the suburbs of Quebec City, it overturns a shed, damages three and causes a city-wide electricity loss when a garage is slammed into an electric pole.

1999

• May 8 - a tornado over Hull, Quebec caused $2M damage and tore roofs off buildings. Was caused by the same system that produced the 1999 Oklahoma tornado outbreak between May 3 and May 8. It was also the second significant tornado in the Hull-Gatineau area in five years.
• May 18 - three tornadoes touch down close to the western limits of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. The supercell associated with the tornadoes pelted the city with quarter-sized hail, wind gusts of nearly 100 km/h (62 mph), and over 51 mm (2 in) of rain fell from the half-hour storm.
• July 6 - Bois-Francs, Quebec region tornado. A tornado left 4,000 without power and 200 in need of temporary shelter in Berthierville, Yamaska and Drummondville. Some Environment Canada records show one person was killed in the event.^[56]
• August 4 - an F2 tornado with a twisting but narrow path causes damage in the rural north end of Burlington, Ontario, relocating a motorhome 2 km (1.2 mi) from where it was parked, the tornado track was over 10 km (6.2 mi) long.
• August 18 - a small tornado strikes Pugwash, Nova Scotia, causing some localized structural damage. There were no serious injuries.

2000s

For tornadoes after 2000, see list of 21st-century Canadian tornadoes and tornado outbreaks

2000

• May 5 - an F0 tornado was confirmed near Hazzards Corners, Ontario, 8 km (5.0 mi) northeast of Madoc. It left a 10 km (6.2 mi) long path causing minor damage to a house and knocking over approximately 100 trees.^[57]
• May 9 - two anticyclonic tornadoes touched down in Southern Ontario, causing minor damage. The first was given an F0 rating, and occurred north of Amherstburg. Multiple trees were knocked over along a 7 km (4.3 mi) path. The second tornado, an F1, touched down in Malden Centre. It tore the roof from a storage shed, and knocked over a large shipping container along a 1 km (0.62 mi) path. No injuries were reported with either storm.^[58]
• May 23 - an F2 tornado touched down near Appin, Ontario, damaging a pig barn and killing several pigs. Multiple homes also sustained damage, and hydro poles were snapped. No injuries were reported.^[57]
• May 24 - a confirmed F1 tornado hits Gloucester, Ontario, a suburb within the city of Ottawa. It snapped trees, tore the roof off a house and ripped the canopy from a gas station.^[59]
• June 22 - an F0 tornado was confirmed near the town of Quyon, Quebec.^[60]
• July 14 - an F3 tornado strikes Green Acres Campground in Pine Lake, Alberta. Known as the Pine Lake tornado, it kills 12 people and causes over $13 million in damage. It is ranked as the fourth deadliest tornado in Canadian history.
• July 17 - three tornadoes were confirmed in Ontario after several supercell thunderstorms developed over the province. An F2 tornado formed over the city of Guelph, lasting approximately 23 minutes and leaving a path of damage 13 km (8.1 mi) long. Damage was estimated at over $2 million and one minor injury was reported. The same storm also produced a second, unrated tornado near Waterdown.^[61] The third tornado, an F1 occurred in Simcoe County, near the town of Melduf. It snapped and uprooted trees, and caused minor crop damage. An aluminum shed was destroyed.^[62]
• July 18 - an F0 tornado touched down near Saint-Jean-Chrysostome, Quebec^[60]
• July 23 - an F3 tornado touched down and destroyed one home and tossed farm equipment near Marwayne, Alberta, 35 km (22 mi) northwest of Lloydminster.^[63]
• July 26 - a tornado touches down briefly near Wabamun, Alberta, about 70 km (43 mi) west of Edmonton, causing minor damage.^[64]
• August 1 - a tornado struck Viking, Alberta.
• August 6 - a tornado touched down near Elnora, Alberta, southeast of Pine Lake. The tornado occurred while people were gathering for a memorial service in Pine Lake for those who died in the Pine Lake tornado just a few weeks earlier.
• August 9 - a tornado was confirmed near Sangudo, Alberta.
• August 9 - an F1 tornado touched down near Tilbury, Ontario destroying a barn and causing heavy damage to two farm houses. No injuries were reported.^[59]

See also

• List of tornadoes and tornado outbreaks
  • List of North American tornadoes and tornado outbreaks
• List of tornadoes striking downtown areas of large cities
• List of F5 and EF5 tornadoes
• Tornado myths
• Tornadoes of 2007

References

1. Enhanced Fujita Scale (EF-Scale)
2. The Weather Doctor's Diary: June - 30 June 1792, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
3. The New York Times - "Tornados" Published July 17, 1870
4. The Weather Doctor's Diary: June - 6 June 1888, Southwestern Quebec
5. The Weather Doctor - Canada's Deadliest Tornadoes
6. The Standard - The day of destruction in Merritton
7. Papers Past - Tornado in Canada
8. Edmonton Journal - Jul 7, 1965 - Tornado Barely Misses Calgary
9. Canadian Disaster Database - July 22, 1920, Saskatchewan Tornado
10. Top Weather Events of the 20th Century - 1921-1940
11. F3 & F4 Tornadoes in Saskatchewan - July 6, 1935
12. - The Montreal Gazette - Jul 7, 1936
13. The Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan - Kamsack
14. Environment Canada - Windsor Tornado
15. Canadian Disaster Database - January 30, 1954, White Beach, Nova Scotia Tornado
16. Canadian Disaster Database - January 1, 1958 - Amaranth Manitoba Tornado
17. Winnipeg Free Press - Storm Kills Man
18. The Calgary Herald, Jun 13, 1966 - Small Tornado Hits Near Nanton
19. American Weather - Southern Ontario Tornado History
20. Hay Township History - 1960's (wrong date)
21. CBC Digital Archives - Freak tornado kills 6 in Sudbury
22. The Calgary Herald - Alberta farms hit by tornado
23. When the Tornado hit Brighton
24. CBC Digital Archives - 1974 Windsor Tornado
25. Toledo Blade, July 24, 1975 - Tornado kills 3 in Quebec
26. Environment Canada - Elie tornado upgraded
27. The Weather Doctor - Significant Weather Events, July 30, 1978
28. Canadian Prairie Storms - Tornado Fatalities in Sask.
29. Thunderstorm Disasters in Canada - August 8, 1979
30. Government of Canada - Canadian National Tornado Database: Verified Events (1980) - Public
31. Government of Canada - Canadian National Tornado Database: Verified Events (1981) - Public
32. Government of Canada - Canadian National Tornado Database: Verified Events (1982) - Public
33. "A Fling with Terror". Edmonton Journal. Retrieved 30 September 2012.
34. Government of Canada - Canadian National Tornado Database: Verified Events (1983.) - Public
35. Jeffrey, Tara (May 2, 2013). "Reece's Corners hardest hit by devastating storm". Postmedia Network. Sarnia Observer. Retrieved August 14, 2016.
36. ,The Atlas of Canada - Photograph of a Tornado, July 8, 1983 Blackfoot, Alberta
37. Summary and Highlights of 1984 Severe Local Storm Season - The Quebec Region
38. Summary and Highlights of 1985 Severe Local Storm Season - The Ontario Region
39. Summary and Highlights of 1986 Severe Local Storm Season - The Ontario Region
40. Edmonton Journal, Jul 27, 1986 - Funnel sightings spur tornado warning
41. The Montreal Gazette, Aug. 6, 1986 - Twister Tragedy
42. The Leader Post - Tornadoes strike in Southern Alberta
43. The Leader Post - Tornadoes touch down in Alberta
44. Summary and Highlights of 1986 Severe Local Storm Season - The Central Region
45. 1987 Quebec Tornadoes
46. "The Edmonton Tornado - Environment Canada (archive.org)". Archived from the original on 2002-11-15.
47. "Canadian National Tornado Database: Verified Events (1980-2009) - Public". Open Canada. Environment Canada. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
48. "Chapter 3 -J Other tornadoes in greater Edmonton". A Commemorative Reflection On The Edmonton Tornado And Hail. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
49. "July 1989 Tornado". Record Meteo. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
50. Government of Canada - Canadian National Tornado Database: Verified Events (1989) - Public
51. "On This Day (1989 Edmonton Tornado)" (Video). Youtube. The Weather Network. 27 July 1993. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
52. Elgin County Archives - 1990 tornado
53. Canadian Disaster Database - 1991 Sarnia Tornado
54. Significant tornadoes of the 19th and 20th centuries - 1991 Quebec Tornado
55. http://www.criacc.qc.ca/climat/suivi/tornade_f.html
56. Public Safety Canada – Significant tornadoes of the 19th and 20th centuries
57. The Ontario Weather Page - 2000 Tornado Database
58. York University - Storm Damage Survey - 9 May 2000
59. Highways & Hailstones - Tornadoes in Canada 2000
60. Climat-Quebec - Tornadoes in Quebec sine 1985
61. York University - Storm Damage Survey - Guelph - 17 July 2000
62. York University - Storm Damage Survey - Melduf - 17 July 2000
63. CBC News - Rancher survives tornado
64. Alberta Emergency Management Agency - Review of some of the disaster events in Alberta since 1986

External links

• Interactive map of tornadoes in Ontario by Highways & Hailstones
• Extreme Weather at the CBC.ca Archives
• Environment Canada's information page on Tornadoes (Alternate Link)
• Canadian Atlas of strong tornadoes
• List of strong tornadoes from 1879 to present
• Dan, Dan, The Weather Man's webpage of Canadian Weather Events
• Tornadoes in Canada and Canada's Deadliest Tornadoes