Researchers confirm 1st tornado of 2025 in Ontario has touched down
Tornado season is officially underway in Ontario as the first one touched down near Woodstock, Ont., a week ago, according to weather researchers.
The Northern Tornadoes Project (NTP) at Western University said Thursday that an EFO tornado — the lowest level on the tornado severity index — touched down in Lakeside, Ont., at around 3 a.m. on May 16.
In a blog post on NTP's website, the group says that 'only trees and a power pole were damaged along the tornado's narrow path' and that no injuries were reported.
View image in full screen
A map, courtesy of the Northern Tornadoes Project, shows where the tornado touched down. Northern Tornadoes Project
The NTP estimated that wind speeds reached up to 115 km/h while it touched down for 3.6 kilometres with a width of 160 metres.
Story continues below advertisement
The NTP had previously reported that there was an EFO downburst about 45 minutes prior to the tornado down the highway in Chatham. The downburst left behind damage to several barns and farm buildings as well as power poles and trees in the area.
Get breaking National news
For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy
Global News Chief Meteorologist Anthony Farnell explained the difference between the two weather events.
'A downburst is wind that descends from a thunderstorm and fans out when it reaches the ground while a tornado that is wind converging at the surface and then rising into the storm,' he said. 'The damage pattern is different for the two events but in this case the wind speeds are similar.
'Tornado damage is often narrow and chaotic (in several directions). Downbust wind damage can be more widespread but it's mostly in the same direction.'
While this is the first confirmed tornado of the year in Ontario, there have been five others across the country in 2025 so far, including one in Vanderhoof, B.C., on Wednesday.
There were 129 tornados across Canada in 2025, according to NTP, with 60 of those occurring in Ontario.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Global News
9 hours ago
- Global News
Life-threatening winds up to 130 km/h prompts warning in Edmonton, northern Alberta
See more sharing options Send this page to someone via email Share this item on Twitter Share this item via WhatsApp Share this item on Facebook A severe thunderstorm warning was issued Thursday night for a swath of northern Alberta that includes Edmonton, cautioning of destructive, high winds on the way. At 7:23 p.m., Environment Canada said its meteorologists were tracking a very dangerous thunderstorm capable of producing destructive wind gusts. 'Extreme wind gusts to 130 km/h have developed ahead of thunderstorms to the west of the area,' Environment Canada said. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Take immediate cover if a thunderstorm approaches, the national weather agency said. Driving conditions may be difficult. Utility outages are possible. Strong wind gusts can damage trees, buildings and overturn vehicles. If outside, protect yourself from flying debris and hail. If you hear roaring wind, see a funnel cloud, flying debris, or any threatening weather approaching, take shelter immediately. Story continues below advertisement Severe thunderstorm warnings are issued when imminent or occurring thunderstorms are expected to produce damaging hail, wind or rain. — This is a breaking news story. More to come…
Global News
10 hours ago
- Global News
2 tornadoes damage home, down trees northeast of Edmonton
Two weak tornadoes touched down in a rural area northeast of Edmonton on an evening when a severe thunderstorm swept across Alberta. The storms on Monday, May 26, started in the Alberta foothills before moving northeast across the Prairies. It rolled through Edmonton around the supper hour and moved north, where two twisters touched down in the Lac La Biche region near Plamondon. Both tornadoes travelled northeast, leaving two long, narrow paths of damage that included a partial roof removal from a home and many snapped and uprooted trees. According to Western University's Northern Tornadoes Project, the first EF1 tornado touched down around 7 p.m. near Atmore. Damage to homes near Atmore and Rossian (north of Plamondon) along with tree damage was reported after a storm passed through the area. No injuries were reported. Story continues below advertisement A Northern Tornadoes Project crew did a ground and drone survey the next day, documenting the weak damage. It's estimated the EF1 tornado came with wind speeds of about 175 km/h, left a path of damage about 300 metres wide and 21 km long. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy That twister ripped off part of a home's roof and flattened trees. View full screen View full screen View full screen Previous Image Next Image Close Modal Gallery The second EF1 twister touched down around 7:25 p.m. near Avenir. Story continues below advertisement The Northern Tornadoes Project said satellite imagery review revealed a narrow path of tree damage near Avenir. That twister wasn't as strong: it had an estimated maximum wind speed of 150 km/h. It's path of damage was about 370 metres wide and 6.43-kilometres mong. View image in full screen Flattened trees from a weak EF1 tornado near Avenir, Alta. on Monday, May 26, 2025. Courtesy: Western University Northern Tornadoes Project At the time, Environment Canada said the severe thunderstorms in Alberta were capable of producing up to toonie-size hail and heavy rain. This is not the first twister of the season in Alberta — Canada's first tornado of 2025 touched down near Brooks, Alta. on Saturday, April 12. Unlike the dozens of devastating supercell tornadoes that have struck the U.S. in this spring, Environment Canada said the one in southern Alberta saw was a landspout — which is a much weaker type of tornado and the most common type in Alberta. Story continues below advertisement There were 129 tornados across Canada in 2024, according to NTP, with 60 of those occurring in Ontario.
Global News
12 hours ago
- Global News
‘Extreme fire risk' prompts more fire bans for parts of southern Alberta
Concern over increasing fire dangers in southern Alberta has prompted Lethbridge County and Vulcan County to put fire bans in place, which means all fire permits are cancelled and all burning is now prohibited. This includes recreational campfires, backyard burning barrels, charcoal barbecues, fireworks or any open flame. Use of certain items, such as propane stoves and gas firepits, is still allowed. Full details can be found on the websites for Lethbridge County and Vulcan County. Heath Wright, the director of emergency services for Lethbridge County, said the decision to implement a fire ban was made because of the rising temperatures, windy conditions and the growing number of wildfires in the province, which he described as 'quite alarming.' 'A lot of people don't realize that one of our key seasons for wildfire is spring because of the Chinook winds and the heat fluctuating so much,' said Wright. Story continues below advertisement 'And even though it's green out and it looks great and there's lots of moisture, the fire signs behind it is indicating that we are in extreme risk and the vegetation is dry even though is green.' Soaring temperatures combined with strong winds and low humidity have created extreme fire danger across most of Alberta. Global News The City of Lethbridge also put a fire ban in place earlier this week, saying warm weather conditions and low humidity have significantly elevated the fire risk. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The provinces of Manitoba and Saskatchewan have also declared a provincial state of emergency because of the number of fires burning in those areas. View image in full screen Heath Wright, director of emergency services for Lethbridge County, said the decision to implement a fire ban was made in communication with fire officials in other jurisdictions. Global News 'It's one of the check boxes that we look at for other regions across Canada,' Wright said. 'We talk to officials. We're always in communication. Story continues below advertisement 'We always look at our brothers and sisters and collaborate and make sure that we're all doing this because it's not just our fight, it's everybody's fight.' Residents of the Lethbridge area are also being asked to exercise extreme caution when disposing of smoking materials because they can easily ignite dry vegetation, starting a wildfire that can quickly get out of control.
