Tornado season is underway in Canada. Here’s what you need to know
Dozens of tornadoes touch down across Canada every year
Tornadoes are a danger across Canada during the warm months.
It’s important to keep up with the latest forecasts and alerts in your area when storms are possible, as you may only have a few minutes to seek safe shelter.
Here’s what you need to know about the country’s tornado season, and how to stay safe when dangerous weather threatens your location.
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Summer features most of Canada’s tornadoes
Canada’s geography leaves the country vulnerable to severe weather. Experts confirm about 65 tornadoes from coast to coast during an average year.
While tornadoes are possible starting in March and continuing through November, the vast majority of Canada’s twisters touch down during the summer months.
June, July, and August account for more than 83 per cent of all average tornado activity during a typical year.
The season typically peaks in July as summer heat meets the most favourable storm dynamics, with the month producing about 35 per cent of an average season’s tornado activity.
Nobody is immune from a tornado
Every province can see tornadoes—and one even struck Fort Smith, N.W.T., back in 2019.
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The Prairies host about 53 per cent of the country’s tornadoes in a typical year, with Saskatchewan leading the pack across the region. Ontario and Quebec follow close behind; the two provinces combined witness about 45 per cent of Canada’s average annual tornado activity.
Given that large swaths of Canada are sparsely populated, it’s likely that many more tornadoes touch down every year that ultimately go unnoticed. Researchers with the Northern Tornadoes Project work to identify previously undiscovered tornadoes in these remote areas.
Even a weak twister is still dangerous
Most of the tornadoes that touch down across Canada are relatively weak and short-lived. Meteorologists use the Enhanced Fujita Scale to estimate wind speeds based on the damage a tornado leaves behind.
57 per cent of all tornadoes confirmed in Canada between 1991 and 2020 received the lowest EF-0 rating. But even the weakest tornado can pack winds of 100+ km/h, which is more than strong enough to send dangerous debris flying through the air.
Around 31 per cent of tornadoes produced EF-1 damage with estimated winds of 135-175 km/h. Only 10 per cent of all confirmed tornadoes produced significant EF-2 damage, and just a handful were stronger than that.
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How to stay safe from tornadoes
Tornado safety is paramount during storm season.
If you know damaging storms are in the forecast, scout out the best sheltering options at home and in places you frequent on a typical day, including work, school, and stores.
Remember, a tornado watch means that conditions are favourable for a tornado over the next few hours. A tornado warning means that you must take action now—a tornado has been spotted or radar data indicates that a tornado is imminent.
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When a tornado warning is issued, seek safe shelter immediately. Take cover away from windows in an interior room on the lowest floor of the building. The goal is to put as many walls and barriers between you and the outdoors as possible.
Use pillows, blankets, coats, or helmets to protect your body from flying debris. Wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes in case you need to walk through sharp debris.
If you’re in a high-rise building, take cover in an interior hallway or stairwell on the lowest floor possible.
Mobile homes are not safe in tornadoes. If you’re in a mobile home during a tornado warning, leave immediately and find the nearest sturdy structure for safe shelter.
If you’re in a vehicle during a tornado warning, do not try to outrun the tornado, and do not seek shelter under an overpass. Pull over immediately and seek shelter in the nearest sturdy structure, or take cover in a ditch or low-lying area as an absolute last resort.