List of Canadian tornadoes and tornado outbreaks
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 the southern Canadian Prairies, Southern Ontario and southern Quebec. Canada ranks as the country with the second 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. 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.
Each year on average, about 43 tornadoes occur across the Canadian Prairies and about 17 occur across Ontario and Quebec. 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 through 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, 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, 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.
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 fewer fatalities than tornadoes in the United States. The deadliest tornado in Canadian history, the Regina Cyclone of June 30, 1912, killed 28 and injured 300. Urban centres are not immune from the threat of severe tornadoes. Ten medium to large size Canadian cities have been hit by significant strength tornadoes, which caused large-scale damage and fatalities: Regina ; Windsor ; Sarnia ; Sudbury ; Woodstock ; London ; Barrie ; Edmonton ; Goderich ; and Ottawa-Gatineau.
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. 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.
- 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 was destroyed by a strong tornado. Re-settlement did not begin for a few years afterwards.
- August 7 - the first known and confirmed tornado death in Canada happened in Galt, Ontario, which is now Cambridge.
- May 19 - homes, fences and trees were demolished by a wide tornado near Aurora, Ontario. Hailstones up to in diameter also fell.
- 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.
- 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.
1880s
- June 10 - a wide tornado in Listowel, Ontario lifted a man up into the air. He grabbed onto a bridge to save himself.
- May 15 - a suspected F4 tornado hit Elora, Ontario. It was wide and destroyed barns, fences and stables. It also damaged a church and cemetery in Mapleton, Ontario.
- June 7 - houses and orchards in North Middlesex and St. Thomas, Ontario were damaged when a tornado touched down and hail up to in diameter fell.
- June 6 - a tornado affected an area between Cornwall, Ontario and Montreal, Quebec, killing three people and destroying 500 farms, barns and outbuildings.
- August 16 - a tornado crossed from South Glengarry, Ontario into Saint-Zotique, Quebec, and then onto Salaberry-de-Valleyfield. It caused extensive property damage, killing nine people and injuring sixteen. It is considered the fifth deadliest tornado to ever hit Canada.
1890s
- June 14 - a tornado hit Sainte-Rose, Quebec. It is listed as the ninth deadliest tornado in Canadian history. Six people were killed and 26 injured.
- June 29 - a tornado touched down in London, Ontario, destroying barns and orchards.
- September 26 - a tornado hit Merritton, Ontario, killing five people and injuring dozens. It left a path of destruction, ending near Tonawanda, New York.
1900s
- An F4 tornado struck Chesterville, Ontario.
- An F3 tornado hit Rockland, Ontario.
- August 14 - A tornado 20 miles south of Vermilion Alberta on the Battle River killed 3 children and destroyed a house along with stables, and corrals.
- July 1 - A tornado near Didsbury Alberta is shown in a photograph in the archives of the Glenbow Museum.
- July 16 - an F3 tornado struck near the settlement of Golden Valley, Alberta, injuring four.
- July 16 - At 10pm a strong tornado destroyed a house and injured its owner and damaged another home 14 miles north of Wilkie, Saskatchewan.
1910s
- August 11 - A large tornado hit near Black Diamond, Alberta destroying some houses and a granary. One woman was badly injured.
- June 30 - Canada's deadliest twister hit Regina, Saskatchewan. Known as the Regina Cyclone, it was an F4 tornado that devastated the city. More than 300 people were injured and 28 people killed. The total cost of damage was estimated to be around $4.5 million.
- 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 killed two people and injured many others.
- No date - a tornado touched down near Vermilion, Alberta, destroying a log house. Three children were killed, and one woman was carried.
- November 29 - a tornado touched down in Leamington, Ontario.
1920s
- July 22 - a strong tornado passed 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.
- June 23 - multiple tornadoes struck Southern Manitoba, killing five people and injuring hundreds. Damage was estimated near $2 million.
- July 21 - a tornado hit near Crystal Springs, Saskatchewan, lifting a house and dropping it in a field nearby.
- August 15 - an F3 tornado touched down near Eastend, Saskatchewan, killing two and injuring four.
- June 24 - a tornado touched down near Hornby, Ontario. It travelled eastward almost before dissipating near Cooksville, close to the centre of present-day Mississauga.
- July 12 - a rare tornado touched down in Lac la Hache, British Columbia, destroying farm buildings and knocking down trees.
- June 18 - a tornado picked up a house in Elfros, Saskatchewan, killing one person. The damage path lasted for.
- 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. There were no injuries.
1930s
- May 23 - a tornado passed a mile south and west of the town of Winkler, Manitoba late in the afternoon, and was photographed. The accompanying cloudburst resulted in severe flooding in the town lasting into the following day.
- July 1 - a strong F4 tornado struck Benson, Saskatchewan.
- July 6 - an F3 tornado touched down near Smiley, Saskatchewan, leaving a path and killing two people.
- July 6 - a tornado destroyed buildings and tossed farm equipment near Lavoy, Alberta, about east of Edmonton.
- June 11 - a tornado touched down near Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, knocking down trees and blowing off roofs.
1940s
- July 25 - a small tornado was reported in the community of Mentmore, Manitoba, causing damage to buildings and crops.
- July 1 - two tornadoes struck Lebret, Saskatchewan, killing four people.
- August 9 - locally known as the "Kamsack Cyclone", a tornado touched down in Kamsack, Saskatchewan, destroying 400 homes and 100 businesses. Three people were killed and many more injured.
- June 17 - the third deadliest tornado in Canadian history struck 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.
- June 24 - a tornado touched down in International Falls, Minnesota, then crossed the border and struck Fort Frances, Ontario. It was given an F3 rating. It dissipated near Rainy River, Ontario.
- December 12 - the small community of Exeter, Ontario, north of London, was struck by an F2 tornado.
- March 19 - a tornado struck the Windsor, Ontario area. This was the earliest tornado in the year for the province until 2016.
- July 19 - the small village of Chénéville, Quebec was devastated by a tornado which lasted about three minutes.
1950s
- September 1 - a tornado cut an path from Rycroft to Eaglesham, Alberta, damaging crops, farm machinery and farm buildings.
- November - a tornado was reported near Regina, Saskatchewan.
- May 21 - an F4 tornado touched down in Sarnia, Ontario, leaving seven people dead, over 40 injured, and 500 homeless. The path was estimated to be over long through Michigan and Ontario.
- January 30 - a very rare mid-winter tornado touched down near White Point, Nova Scotia.
- April 25 - a tornado touched down near Nanaimo, British Columbia, causing minor damage in the south end of the city.
- January 1 - a tornado was spotted near Amaranth, Manitoba.
- April 16 - a tornado hit Watrous, Saskatchewan, destroying a large barn and scattering pigs up to away.
- 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 away in Winnipeg.
1960s
- July 18 - a violent cone-shaped tornado was reported to have torn through the Mentmore, Ingelow and Brookdale areas of Manitoba. The twister pushed 59 cars from a Canadian National Railway freight train off their tracks, damaged buildings, flattened crops, snapped power lines, uprooted trees and pushed a garage off its foundation. Damage was estimated at half a million dollars.
- July 1 - a small tornado was observed near Vancouver, British Columbia. This was the third tornado recorded since the weather office opened in 1929.
- June 29 - a large tornado touched down near Spy Hill, Saskatchewan, northwest of Regina, destroying multiple houses and damaging property. One man was killed when he was sucked out of his house. The tornado travelled, and left a wide path of destruction.
- March 7 - an unconfirmed tornado touched down in Ucluelet, British Columbia, causing significant damage. It 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.
- 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.
- April 11 - a weak tornado hit Watson, Saskatchewan, destroying a garage.
- July 20 - a tornado struck La Riviere, Manitoba destroying several cabins, ripping the roof off the grain elevator, flipping vehicles, and downing many trees. The tornado tracked about 20 miles to northeast of Manitou with a damage path 200 yds wide.
1970s
- August 20 - an early morning F3 tornado touched 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 six were killed. The damage was estimated at $17 million, and it is listed as the eighth deadliest tornado in Canadian history.
- July 22 - a tornado near Algonquin Provincial Park left a 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. Two people were injured, and one person was injured and died later from the injuries.
- July 5 - a tornado touched down near Kelvington, Saskatchewan.
- July 13 - a tornado touched down in Brighton, Ontario in the early evening hours. It only lasted 32 seconds, but destroyed the city hall and toppled most maple trees along Main Street. The Presbyterian Church also lost its steeple. Only one person was injured.
- August 27 - Algonquin Provincial Park was hit with another tornado near Lake Manitou, flattening an long path of forest.
- April 3 - Windsor, Ontario was hit with an F3 tornado, part of the 1974 Super Outbreak. Nine people were killed and 30 were injured, with an estimated $500,000 in damage. It is listed as the sixth deadliest tornado in Canadian history.
- July 24 - a strong tornado hit Saint-Bonaventure, Quebec, approximately northeast of Montreal, destroying over 100 homes and businesses. Three people were killed, and over forty were hospitalized.
- 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.
- June 27 - an F2 tore through the city of Masson-Angers, Quebec, damaging 100 homes and injuring 35 people.
- July 30 - an F2 tornado touched down near Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, toppling a tower and then destroying a transmission tower near Rae-Edzo. Some witnesses said that they saw a huge 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.
- July 10 - a tornado struck the town of Glasnevin, Saskatchewan, killing one person.
- August 7 - three tornadoes struck 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, the other starting in the south of Stratford, tearing a path southeast for. An F0 satellite tornado accompanied the Woodstock tornado for up to. The storms killed two 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 this was unconfirmed.
1980s
1980
- April 6 - an F0 tornado touched down near Altona, Manitoba, southwest of Winnipeg.
- May 5 - an F1 tornado was confirmed north of Stratford, Ontario, leaving a path of damage in length.
- May 23 - two tornadoes touched down; an F0 near Schuler, and an F1 near Hilda, Alberta.
- May 25 - two F1 tornadoes hit near Aden and Cereal, Alberta. An F0 was also confirmed near Hilda.
- 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.
- May 26 - an F0 tornado touched down near Quill Lake, Saskatchewan.
- May 28 - an F0 tornado was confirmed south of Morden, Manitoba.
- May 31 - a late afternoon F0 tornado touched down, leaving a path of damage from Georgetown to Woodbridge, Ontario. No injuries were reported, but the damage cost was an estimated $900,000.
- June 2 - Environment Canada confirmed an F0 tornado touched down near Grassy Lake, Alberta, causing no damage.
- June 9 - an F0 tornado touched down, leaving a damage path near Whitby, Ontario. Minimal damage was reported.
- June 11 - Foremost, Alberta was struck by an F1 tornado, causing no damage.
- 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.
- July 6 - an F1 tornado touched down near Prince Albert, Saskatchewan.
- July 10 - a late night F1 tornado was confirmed between Fairy Glen, and Gronlid, Saskatchewan, causing no damage.
- July 14 - an F0 tornado touched down near Sylvan Lake, Alberta, west of Red Deer.
- July 15 - an F0 tornado hit near the town of Wellesley, Ontario, northwest of Kitchener, leaving a path and causing approximately $50,000 in damage. No injuries were reported.
- July 16 - an evening F1 tornado struck the town on LaSalle, Ontario, damaging property along a path. No injuries were reported, but the damage cost was an estimated $500,000.
- July 22 - a rare F0 tornado was confirmed, touching down near the town of Roseway, Nova Scotia.
- July 26 - an F0 tornado struck the Pinaymootang First Nation, in Fairford, Manitoba.
- July 28 - North Battleford, Saskatchewan was hit with an F0 tornado causing no damage.
- July 29 - an F0 tornado touched down near Bowsman, Manitoba just before midnight. No damage was reported.
- August 8 - an F0 tornado left a track near Wheatley, Ontario. No injuries were reported.
- August 8 - an F2 tornado touched down in Le Petit-Aigle, Quebec, injuring one person.
- August 9 - Roberval, Quebec was hit with a small F0 tornado.
- August 9 - an F0 tornado touched down near Maple Green, New Brunswick.
- August 10 - an F0 tornado was confirmed near Aldersyde, Alberta.
- 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 path.
- 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 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.
- August 15 - Prince Edward Island experienced a rare F0 tornado, touching down near Strathgartney and leaving a path.
- August 16 - an F0 tornado was confirmed near Northport, Nova Scotia.
- August 25 - an F0 tornado cut a path though Neskantaga First Nation in Northern Ontario.
- 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.
- 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.
- September 25 - an F2 tornado hit near Teeswater, Ontario, and was on the ground for over.
- September 28 - an F0 tornado was confirmed in Cape Traverse, Prince Edward Island.
1981
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