Items

• Fort Frances (1947)
  Classified as 'a9'.
• Tilbury (1947)
• Windsor (1946)
  The third deadliest tornado in Canadian history, and the most deadly ever recorded in Ontario. Violent tornado originated in the Melvindale suburb of Detroit, Michigan, and tracked ENE into Canada, arriving at Brighton Beach. It then began its extremely destructive 20km track across the Windsor area before lifting off at Belle River on Lake St. Clair. Sometimes referred to as the “Windsor-Tecumseh Tornado” Objects lofted high into the storm by the tornado were found great distances from their origins. An airplane was picked up by the tornado in Detroit and landed on a house in Windsor, killing the residents inside. – from “Disasters of Ontario, 75 Stories of Courage and Chaos”, (René Biberstien) Investigated by EC as a candidate for F5 rating upgrade. It was not warranted due to lack of evidence. “In the surrounding countryside downpours covered roads to a depth of nearly 3 feet. Floods inundated 60-70,000 acres of agricultural lands as dykes at Erieau gave way causing $5 million damage to tomatoes, corn, potatoes, beets, and onion crops. The loss considered to be a tremendous set-back to farmers striving to produce more food for post war Europe. A pair of trousers found between Belle River and No. 2 HWY by Mrs. Walter Dourocher in her garden. In the pockets were telegrams and other identification that proved the pants to Waldo Beeman who along with his 19 year old bride and their baby were killed by the tornado. Ray Milner, pilot of an incoming aircraft described the advancing tornado. “It was ripping through power lines and the ground was covered with blue flashes like the pictures of bombs bursting. I could see from my pilots seat in the plane how it crumpled buildings like eggshells. It would pick up other objects and whirl them around.”” Time : 7:10PM (TPSS = 6:08PM), There are multiple measurments for track length and width, Track Length : 19.42km (12.07mi) / UTM = 19.75km (12.27mi), Max Width : 805m (2641ft) / Average Width = 273m (896ft) / new file = 300m Some sources say 30m/100ft, Direction : 255° (WSW-ENE), Injuries listed as 100+; cost: $1.5M? $9.663M?
• Birnam to Lambeth (1944)
  A very strong tornado touched down just west of Birnam, Lambton County and began to track SE toward Wisbeach, passing on the west side of the hamlet. It then tracked another 2km SE before turning east along what is now Highway 402 at the Lambton/Middlesex County line, where it inflicted severe damage to a sugar bush, travelling east for an additional 5.5km. Yet again, it then took a SE turn down to the current day Mullifarry Drive, widening out and tracking parallel to the road for about 6km while damaging nearly every farmstead along its path. About 1km west of Highway 81, it turned and widened to the SE again now passing just to the north of Strathroy town centre. As it passed this area the tornado is believed to have widened to approximately 1 mile or 1.6km before nearing County Road 39. After passing County Road 39, it narrowed and possibly weakened or lifted slightly for 2km, but near the intersection of McEvoy Road and Walkers Drive, began to pick up again, widening it path of destruction to back to about 1.6km. Turning slightly SE again, it went another 4km to Olde Drive where it may have weakened or lifted slightly, and turning to the east, following the CN rail corridor into Lobo Township toward Komoka. Continuing east on the south end of Komoka, it began to turn toward a more southerly course heading toward the Thames River, southeast of town. It then crossed the River and headed over County Road 3 (Gideon Drive) now at a SSE trajectory. At this point, it once again either lifted slightly or weakened and continued SE for 8km over the countryside, tracking parallel to Longwoods Road. At the intersection of Murray Road and Longwoods Road, it turned to the east, still following Longwoods Road directly into the town of Lambeth. The tornado then weakened and lifted just north of the town. Another 7.53km path of damage parallel to the parent track was indicated on the track map beginning just west of Sharon and ending on the east side of Scottsville, approximately 3km SSE of Lambeth. Time: 4:00PM Local (TPSS = 3:00PM), Direction : 288° (WNW-ESE), Shape : , “a number of golfers saw “it” coming”, Injuries listed as “several”
• Daytonia Beach (1948)
  Loblaws director killed Direction : ~225° (SW-NE)
• Gooderham to Coe Hill & Cloyne (1947)
  28 homeless Wrecked 3 farmhouses in 90 seconds. 5 occupants of home found in the trees (some naked and bleeding) Near Coe Hill a service station was lifted – drew car on roof Also near Coe Hill a girl was killed by falling timber “Roar greater than a dynamite explosion” Large, flat hailstones “half the size of saucers” fell such that people sitting in their car “could not see more than 5 feet outside.” Many accounts of buildings being blown away and never found again. Witnesses described the incredible twisting of some trees and other objects. Severe to devastating damage especially in Coe Hill area. Reason for no F4 rating only due to the suspect construction of houses. If construction deemed sound, F4 rating would apply. Noted in file that at least some of the cabins destroyed were attached to concrete foundations Track length and Max Width have a TPSS measurment that is different from the listed sizes (70mi and 1/2 mi, respectively), Direction : 275° (W-E), Damage Cost: , likely $10,000’s and probably as high as $100K+
• Orton (1942)
  “Mr. King was alone at the time, in the driving shed, and he heard the noise, but thought at first it was an aeroplane. He had his hand hurt by the door when trying to open it, when it blew shut again.” Direction: UTM = 265° (W-E), Shape: , News: “Cyclone cuts narrow strip north of Orton Village.”
• Pardoville (1948)
• West of Clinton (1942)
  A house 100 feet south of the barn destroyed, was not harmed. Deaths: 0 (a few head of sheep and a 500lb pig killed)
• Middlemarch (1941)
  Probable tornado tracked through just west of St. Thomas. Storm may have tracked NNW to SSE, as accumulation of hail was indicated at Port Stanley. Track may be figured by finding locations of properties hit.
• Welcome (1940)
  Probable F2 Tornado.
• Stevensville (1940)
  Probable F2 tornado touched down in Stevensville, wrecking at least 2 barns and uprooting trees. Imjuries listed as possible injuries.
• Regal Heights to Summerhill (1940)
  Probable F2 tornado tracked south and parallel to St. Clair Avenue West from Highview Crescent to Young Street. Direction: UTM = 256° (WSW-ENE)
• Milliken to Agincourt (1940)
  Probable F2 tornado tracked through the Markham/Scarborough area. See listed newspapers for additional info. Direction: UTM = 328° (NNW-SSE)
• Midtown to Thorncliffe (1940)
  See newspapers for details. Direction: UTM = 271° (W-E)
• Markham to Cherrywood (1940)
  Probable F2 tornado ripped through the western end of Markham and damaged farm properties before lifting off near Cherrywood (NW of Pickering). See newspaper for more info. Direction: UTM = 283° (WNW-ESE)
• Exhibition Grounds to Centre Island (1940)
  Probable F2 tornado. Newspapers have detailed info. Direction: UTM = 287° (WNW-ESE)
• Dovercourt Park to West Don Lands (1940)
  Probable F2 tornado. See newspaper for details. Direction: UTM = 286° (WNW-ESE)
• Aurora (1940)
  Probable F2 tornado. When radio tower fell, the operator in a nearby building didn’t hear it due to the loudness of the storm itself.
• Windsor (1948)
  Associated with a tornado outbreak which killed 39 (43?) people in the US. (Alton-Bunker Hill-Gillespie) No funnel mentioned but “It sounded like a thousand express trains” 20 homeless “Storm acted in a freakish way levelling some dwellings but leaving adjacent buildings unscathed.” Rare March tornado for Ontario. Second earliest calendar day for Probable/Confirmed tornado in Ontario. Could warrant F3 upgrade as a house was apparently “levelled”. Direction : 265° (W-E), Shape : , Air was filled with flying debris; “$Thousands”
• Fort Frances (1946)
  No funnel witnessed, but narrow path of tornadic damage found. Tornado began in International Falls and tracked NE through Fort Frances and along the shoreline of Sand Bay where it did extensive damage to boats, seaplane marinas, and a large lumber mill operation. Direction : UTM = 225° (SW-NE), Shape: , Likely rain-wrapped and not well defined. “…A 7ft wall of water seen on Rainy River during the height of the storm…”, Injuries and Deaths both listed as unsure (11? and 1?)
• Bancroft (1949)
  The newspaper indicated that this may have been caused by the same storm which blew through Minden-Drag Lake earlier. Considerable damage to several mainly farm properties just outside the village of Bancroft. No funnel was mentioned but (tornadic damage?) therefore rated possible tornado. Direction : ° likely W-E or WSW-ENE, Damage Cost: , likely $1,000s
• Alexandria (1949)
  Tornado touched down about 2 miles west of Alexandria in rural farm country. Likely witnessed as “short-lived” “twister” described to come from converging and “low and rolling” clouds. Also “disappeared” as it went over the bush lot. F2 tornado as barns were destroyed. See newsapaper for witness accounts and info. Damage Cost: Newspaper estimate $6,000
• McGregor (1946)
  Part of a strong storm system which moved into SW Ontario on June 16 and exited the next day with the Windsor F4 tornado. This tornado came in from 5km NW of Amherstburg travelling ENE for just over 6km directly toward and over McGregor. Despite the ferocity of the storm, there were no major injuries or fatalities. In addition, the widespread and frequent thunderstorms (likely warm front/sector) caused massive flooding in the SW especially Essex County on the 16th. Direction : UTM = 255° (WSW-ENE)
• Rodney, Aldborough Township (1943)
  Probable strong and deadly tornado struck just south of Rodney where it destroyed property and killed a woman along its relatively narrow path. Max Width: “Cuts Narrow Swath”, Direction: UTM = 306° (NW-SE), Shape: “four minute whirlwind” “baby tornado”