Environment Canada confirms 3 tornadoes and 2 downbursts in Ottawa, Ontario
Image credit: ed3dfx
Environment and Climate Change Canada confirmed three tornadoes and two downbursts were produced by severe thunderstorms associated with a strong cold front in Eastern Ontario on Friday, September 21, 2018.
A severe thunderstorm produced a downburst in Calabogie near 16:15 EDT Friday. A tornado then developed over Calabogie and tracked to White Lake. Several houses have roof damage and many trees were snapped and uprooted. Winds associated with this downburst and EF-1 tornado are estimated to be up to 175 km/h (109 mph).
The same severe thunderstorm then produced a second tornado that tracked from 10 km (6.2 miles) west of Kinburn across Dunrobin and Gatineau between 16:40 and 17:20 EDT. This tornado damaged or destroyed numerous buildings, overturned vehicles and snapped many trees and hydro poles.
There were also reports of multiple injuries including several people that were critically injured. Preliminary assessment of the damage indicates that this was a high-end EF-3 tornado with wind speeds up to 265 km/h (165 mph).
Another severe thunderstorm produced a tornado which tracked from the Arlington Woods to Greenboro areas in Ottawa near 18:00 EDT. This tornado significantly damaged buildings and snapped many trees and hydro poles. Preliminary assessment of the damage indicates that this was a high-end EF-2 tornado with wind speeds up to 220 km/h (137 mph).
Yet another area of damage from a severe thunderstorm was investigated at Sharbot Lake. A downburst with maximum winds of about 110 km/h (68 mph) knocked down many trees in the area.
Teo Blašković founded The Watchers in 2011 and edited it until 2026, covering seismic and volcanic activity, extreme weather, space weather and near-Earth objects. Articles on this page are his archive.
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