Tornadoes- what do we know?

Skywatch Friday

Yes, we watch the skies.

I know that while we've had recent hurricane-like weather in Ontario, it is bad in the mid-US.

Five F5s (the worst) a year in Tornado Alley is normal, with 1300 tornados a year being average.

They only kept stats since 1925, when there were 800 dead.

The truth is: hot wet, cold dry, systems meet and cause these storms. They are predictable, May/June, for example, but unpredictable when they will touch down.

Aug. 2009

Those who watch them- do not see trends.

Dec., 2008

I'm glad to be living away from such, although we've had enough winds to keep us on our toes.

I've been in Muskoka hurricanes, and they aren't any fun. This devastation makes me grateful to live in North America, with infrastructure, EMS crews, Hydro teams who work hard after storms.

The storm chasers are scary, as they seek to film the tornadoes. They are, apparently, eminently successful!


On May 24, 2011 a violent tornado struck the community of Newcastle, OK. ... A number of motorists made the choice to shelter from the tornado beneath the H.E. Bailey Turnpike Spur overpass on State HWY 76 overpass. The results of this action are revealed in graphic detail on this video. IT IS A MYTH that highway overpasses provide any sort of shelter from tornadic winds! On May 3, 1999 during what is regarded as the preeminent tornado outbreak in Oklahoma history, people were killed and/or suffered horrific injuries after doing the same... TVN's own Reed Timmer, then a naive freshman meteorology student, narrowly avoided being engulfed by the Bridge Creek F-5 by doing the same thing, and has publicly spoken against this practice ever since. DO NOT USE OVERPASSES AS TORNADO SHELTERS!!!!!
For more information on this subject, please visit this link.

Gravenhurst Tornado confirmed

Updates: Tornado confirmed in Gravenhurst!

"Environment Canada has confirmed that an F0 tornado hit Gravenhurst Aug. 20. An F0 is said to be the least-impacting..."

Winds between 60-110 kilometres an hour. Nothing to sneeze at (or in!). Amazing how GR didn't make any news.

Nor the Thornbury orchards (on Georgian Bay) that lost 85% of their crops.

I told you so!

I had queries on my YouTube video:
Tornado confirmed in Gravenhurst, Ontario
about whether nor not it was a tornado. Sure looked bad to me! It took all this time, however, for it to hit the weekly newspaper. This is the way local reporting is going.

Tornado photos from Gravenhurst

UPDATE:

Tornado confirmed in Gravenhurst

Environment Canada has confirmed that an F0 tornado hit Gravenhurst Aug. 20. An F0 is said to be the least-impacting.
Winds between 60-110 kilometres an hour. Nothing to sneeze at (or in!). Amazing how GR didn't make any news.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I cannot believe it!
I went into Gravenhurst and saw some terrible damage.

As I commented last post - these are only buildings and a shelter can be replaced. AFAIK no one is hurt. You can see how the trees landed on a roof, rather than people. This is a good thing, methinks.

I know the homeowners are in shock. Some are standing around watching crews take down branches and debris. Some have a look of relief on their faces. I can only imagine what it must have sounded like.

I first approached Gull Wing Lake Park. It was totally closed and had numerous HUGE trees down.


Behind the beer store wires were down on the road.

God bless our hydro crews who are now working away at this problem. I was 10 days without power during Ice Storm '98, and I always bow deeply in honour of our hydro crews. They walked on water as far as we were concerned.


Anderson's produce had a stand near the beer store. It had an issue with the mother of all trees.


What is so sad are the houses. But they can be rebuilt. People cannot.


This tree split, with a half of the 'Y' still upright. We have good tree people around who can decide if it has to go or not. Such a shame, these beautiful old trees. Nature is a powerful beast.
This family has 'Peeps', as my son calls them. They know people. Their branches are gather and stacked. The roof is tarped. The insurance adjuster will be along shortly and things will be fixed.
The LCBO will be busy tonight! I wish I could buy a case for our crews. Skills, training and good people in Muskoka!

Deadly Skies: Canada's Most Destructive Tornadoes | CBC Archives

12 May 2008 ... Tornadoes can be the most violent storms on earth