Close Alert Banner
Skip to Content
County of Lambton Home
AccessibilityPrivacy Statement

emergencies logoprint logo

Contact Us
  • About Us
  • Hazards
  • Prepare
  • Staying Aware

Tornado

Tornadoes

...EmergenciesHazardsTornadoes
  • Open new window to share this page via Facebook Facebook
  • Open new window to share this page via Twitter Twitter
  • Open new window to share this page via LinkedIn Pinterest
  • Open new window to share this page via LinkedIn LinkedIn
  • Email this page Email

Most tornadoes in Ontario occur in the late afternoons of May through September, often during periods of high temperatures and high humidity.

Wind speeds within a tornado can range from 64 km/h to over 500 km/h. Tornadoes can last minutes or hours.

A number of significant tornadoes in touched down in Lambton County over the years. The most destructive tornado was an F3 tornado that crossed the St. Clair River and struck downtown Sarnia in 1953. Other tornadoes over have impacted Lambton communities over the years including Reece's Corners in 1983 (F3), central Lambton in 2011 (F2), Grand Bend in 2014 (EF1), and Enniskillen in 2019 (EF1).

On average, Ontario experiences approximately 12 tornadoes each year.

Warning Signs of a Tornado

Many times tornadoes form unexpectedly, leaving forecasters no time to issue official warnings and residents no time to take shelter.

However there are conditions that precede a tornado we can all watch for:

  • Thunderstorms that grow steadily worse, with heavy rain and extreme thunder and lightning.
  • Large hail (hail larger than a nickel is evidence of a strong storm).
  • An extremely dark sky, sometimes highlighted by rotating green or yellow clouds. Sometimes wisps of cloud will be seen swirling upward toward a low point in the clouds.
  • An eerie calm at the end of a severe storm – the sun might even be visible.
  • A rumbling sound like a freight train, or a whistling sound like a jet.
  • A “wall of white” coming toward you – many tornadoes are hidden by heavy rain and a funnel might not be visible.

If you observe any of the above warning signs, take cover immediately.

Be aware and prepared: Watches & Warnings

Environment Canada will issue tornado Watches or Warnings when necessary, but tornadoes can form unexpectedly, so a Watch or a Warning may not precede a tornado touchdown.

Know the differences - they are significant - between Watches and Warnings.

Watches

A Tornado Watch may be issued when conditions are favourable for tornadoes to develop later in the day. This is a significant weather development, so monitor weather conditions and listen for updated weather reports. Be prepared to take action if severe weather develops.

Warnings

A Tornado Warning may be issued when a tornado has been sighted, or if radar detects storm rotation. Residents in the area covered by a warning will be advised to take shelter immediately.

Warnings will typically be issued through Alert Ready (directly to TV, radio, and compatible wireless devices), MyCNN, and by announcers on local TV and radio stations.

When weather conditions look threatening, turn on your battery-powered radio and listen for weather reports or check the Environment Canada Warnings webpage. If your area is advised to take cover, do so immediately.

What to do if a tornado threatens

  • Take shelter immediately, preferably in the lowest level of a sturdy building.
  • Stay away from windows and exterior doors and walls. Flying glass and debris blown into a building are extremely dangerous.
  • Do not spend valuable time opening windows to prevent your home from “exploding.” Buildings are typically damaged by wind and blowing debris – not by a sudden drop in air pressure. In fact, when a Tornado Watch is issued, you should close any open windows, doors and garage doors. Winds can enter building openings (especially though open garages) and cause walls to blow out and roofs to collapse.
  • Take cover immediately when advised or when conditions are threatening.

Finding shelter

  • In a house, go to the basement and take shelter under a stairway or a sturdy piece of furniture such as a table.
  • In a house with no basement, go to a closet or a bathroom near the centre of the building, without windows. Lying in a bathtub with a mattress on top may provide additional protection.
  • In a large building such as a grocery store or shopping mall, go to an interior hallway or a washroom on the lowest level, or get under a sturdy piece of furniture. Avoid large, open areas and stay away from windows.
  • In high-rise buildings, go to the lowest level, a small interior room or a stairwell. Stay out of elevators and away from windows.
  • If you are camping, hiking, biking or outdoors when a tornado is approaching, and there are no good shelters nearby, your situation is dire. Try to find a low-lying area such as a ditch and get into it. If there are no low areas, try to get deep into a thick cluster of trees and get down as low as possible. Protect your head from flying debris – small objects can become lethal projectiles when driven by tornadic winds.
  • If you are driving and see a tornado in the distance, try to determine what direction it is heading and get out of its path if possible. If it is not possible to escape the tornado, find shelter. Do not take shelter under an overpass. If the tornado is approaching, get out of your vehicle and take cover in a low-lying area. If no good shelter is available, and debris is flying, your only option may be to park at the side of the road, leave your seatbelt on and get below the level of the windows. A strong tornado can easily toss or carry even large vehicles, but when absolutely no other shelter exists, your vehicle might provide some protection. Note that if a tornado seems to be standing still, it is likely either travelling away from you, or heading right toward you.

The Enhanced Fujita Scale

On April 1, 2013, Environment Canada's Weather Service introduced a new scale to measure the intensity of wind damage. This scale, called the Enhanced Fujita Scale or EF-Scale, is a more modern and improved version of the original Fujita Scale (F-Scale).

As with the original scale, the EF-Scale is a 6-point scale that goes from zero (weakest) to five (strongest). Its adoption unifies the approach to wind damage assessment in Canada and the United States, which adopted the enhanced scale in 2007 (all Canadian tornado examples provided below and prior to 2013 were assessed on the original F-Scale).

EF0

Light winds of 90 to 130 km/hr; some damage to chimneys, TV antennas, roof shingles, trees, signs, and windows. EF0 tornadoes account for about 28 per cent of all tornadoes.

EF1

Moderate winds of 135 to 175 km/hr; automobiles overturned, carports destroyed, and trees uprooted. EF1 tornadoes account for about 24 per cent of all tornadoes (i.e. 2014 Grand Bend Tornado, 2019 Enniskillen Tornado).

EF2

Considerable winds of 180 to 220 km/hr; roofs blown off homes. Sheds and outbuildings demolished, and mobile homes overturned. EF2 tornadoes account for about 24 per cent of all tornadoes (i.e. 2011 Central Lambton Tornado).

EF3

Severe winds of 225 to 265 km/hr; exterior walls and roofs blown off homes, metal buildings collapsed or severely damaged, and forests and farmland flattened. EF3 tornadoes account for about six per cent of all tornadoes (i.e. 1953 Sarnia Tornado and 1983 Reece's Corners Tornado).

EF4

Devastating winds of 270 to 310 km/hr; few walls, if any, left standing in well-built homes. Large steel and concrete objects carried or thrown great distances. EF4 tornadoes account for about two per cent of all tornadoes (i.e. 1946 Windsor Tornado and 1985 Barrie Tornado).

EF5

Incredible winds of over 315 km/hr causing total destruction; well-built homes swept away and obliterated, asphalt scoured from roads, vehicles carried great distances and ripped apart. EF5 tornadoes can cause tremendous or complete damage to most buildings and structures. Tornadoes of this magnitude account for less than one per cent of all tornadoes.

Many people think EF5 tornadoes only occur in the central U.S. “Tornado Alley”, but in 1953 a devastating F5 tornado struck within 110 km of Lambton County near the City of Flint, Michigan. Another F5 tornado hit Michigan in 1956 – this time in the Grand Rapids area. There has been only one documented F5 in Canada, which occurred in Elie Manitoba on June 22, 2007.

Facts

  • Most tornadoes are less than a few hundred metres across, but the 2013 El Reno Oklahoma Tornado reached a width of 4.2 kms (about 2.6 miles) – the widest tornado ever recorded.
  • Most tornadoes form near the south-west end of a storm, just when conditions seem to be improving. In fact, the sky may already be brightening in the distance.
  • The air may be unusually calm just a few kilometres away from an active tornado. However, it is dangerous to be outside near a tornado because pieces of debris drawn into the storm can fall from the sky without warning.
  • Some people have compared the sound of a tornado to a jet engine or a freight train, but some tornadoes produce no sound. Irregular crashing sounds could be from damage being caused by the tornado.
  • Do not assume that you will see or hear a tornado coming. Tornadoes do not always have visible funnels and heavy rain often hides tornadoes.
  • Emergencies
    Emergencies Menu
    • About Us
      About Us Menu
      • Emergency Management
      • Emergency Response Plan
    • Hazards
      Hazards Menu
      • Chemical Emergencies
      • Cyber Attacks
      • Flooding
      • Past Emergencies
      • Power Failures
      • Public Health Emergencies
      • Thunderstorms
      • Tornadoes
      • Winter
    • Prepare
      Prepare Menu
      • 72-Hour Supplies Kits
      • After a Disaster
      • During an Emergency
      • Pets and Emergencies
      • Texting with 9-1-1
    • Staying Aware
      Staying Aware Menu
      • 211 Ontario
      • 911
      • MyCNN
      • Severe Weather Alerting
View Full Resident Services Menu
  • Children's Services
    Children's Services Menu
    • Child Care Subsidy
      Child Care Subsidy Menu
      • Child Care Subsidy Calculator
    • Wage Enhancement
  • Community Safety and Well-Being Plan
    Community Safety and Well-Being Plan Menu
    • Background Report
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Priority Areas of Focus
  • Court Services
    Court Services Menu
    • About Court Services
    • News and Schedules
    • Paying Your Ticket
    • Ticket Information and Resources
  • COVID-19
    COVID-19 Menu
    • Supports and Resources
    • Volunteer
  • Event Calendar
  • Emergency Medical Services
    Emergency Medical Services Menu
    • About Us
    • Our Paramedics
    • Programs
    • Station and Fleet
  • Health Services
  • Homelessness Prevention
    Homelessness Prevention Menu
    • Programs and Supports
  • Housing Services
    Housing Services Menu
    • Community Support Workers
    • Homeownership Down Payment Assistance
    • Housing & Homelessness Reports
    • Housing Services Building Selections - County of Lambton Owned
      Housing Services Building Selections - County of Lambton Owned Menu
      • Alvinston Apartments
      • Avondale Apartments
      • Capel Manor
      • Cardiff Acres
      • Central Apartments
      • Eastland Gardens, Twin Berry Park
      • Golden Villa
      • Guernsey Gardens
      • Huronview Apartments
      • Jubilee Gardens
      • King's Court
      • Maxwell Park Place
      • Moore Lodge
      • Parkside Apartments
      • Roger Street
      • Sombra Apartments
      • St. Clair Gardens
      • Sunset Lodge
      • Valley View Villa
      • Watford Apartments
    • Housing Services Building Selections - Rent Supplement Units
    • Lambton Renovates
    • Portable Housing Benefit
    • Special Needs Housing
  • Lambton Circles
    Lambton Circles Menu
    • About Us
      About Us Menu
      • Contact Us
      • Training and Resources
    • Circles in the Media
    • Testimonials
    • You Can Help
      You Can Help Menu
      • Allies
      • Donate
      • Leaders
  • Local Immigration Partnership
    Local Immigration Partnership Menu
    • Community Initiatives
      Community Initiatives Menu
      • Sarnia-Lambton Anti-Racism, Diversity & Inclusion Committee
      • Welcoming Week
    • Local Immigration Partnership Council
    • LIP Resources and Publications
    • Contact Us
  • Long-Term Care and Adult Enrichment Centres
  • Ontario Works
    Ontario Works Menu
    • Applying for Assistance
    • Employment Support
      Employment Support Menu
      • Lambton Works Centre
    • Family Law Resources
    • Financial Benefits
    • MyBenefits
    • Social Assistance Appeals
  • Property Taxes
  • Roads
    Roads Menu
    • Adopt-A-County Road
    • Construction Projects
    • Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
    • Entrance Permits
    • Mailbox Policy
    • Oversize and Overweight Permits
    • Pipeline Agreements
    • Road Closures
    • Roundabouts
    • Sign Permits
    • Winter Operations
  • Schools
  • Stronger Together Summit
  • Waste Management
    Waste Management Menu
    • Household Hazardous Waste
    • Landfills

Contact Us

subscribe icon Subscribe to this page

Subscribe to our emails

Subscribe to receive updates on County news, alerts and events.

Subscribe

iCreate Base Site Logo

Contact Us

The Corporation of the County of Lambton
789 Broadway Street, Box 3000
Wyoming ON N0N 1T0

T: 519-845-0801 TF: 1-866-324-6912

Fax: 519-845-3160 Email Us

View our Facebook Page View our Twitter Page View our YouTube Page
  • Resident Services
  • Visit and Explore
  • Business and Development
  • County Government
  • A-Z Services
  • Contact Us
  • 2big4email
  • Portal Login
  • Job Board
  • Feedback Form
  • Our Websites
  • Website Feedback
Discoveries That Matter Logo
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Use
  • Sitemap
  • Increase Contrast

Copyright © 2019

Designed by eSolutionsGroup

I Want To...

Apply and Pay icon

Apply and Pay

  • Building Permits
  • Development Applications
  • Grants and Funding
  • Jobs
  • Ticket
  • Septic Permits
  • Speak Before Council
  • Bids and Tenders
Contact icon

Contact

  • County Staff
  • County Council
Visit and Explore icon

Visit and Explore

  • Beaches
  • Events
  • Maps
  • Museums and Heritage
  • Parks
  • Trails
View icon

View

  • Acknowledgement of Ancestral Lands
  • Agendas and Minutes
  • Budget and Financial Statements
  • CivicWeb
  • Council Livestream
  • Plans, Reports and Studies
Close Old Browser Notification
Browser Compatibility Notification
It appears you are trying to access this site using an outdated browser. As a result, parts of the site may not function properly for you. We recommend updating your browser to its most recent version at your earliest convenience.