Items

• Middlesex (1953)
• Oconto (1959)
  Brief but strong possible tornado levelled all trees in its relatively short path along a rail corridor. Thunderstorms were reported in eastern Ontario that evening. Time listed as PM or Evening, Track Length : UTM = 943m (3094ft) / TPSS ~1mi, Direction : UTM = 328° (NNW-SSE) / TPSS = 340°?
• Toronto (1959)
  Tornado struck the northeast corner of Toronto doing mostly minor damage to a number of properties along its path. Large hail the size of tennis balls in one area were noted to have fallen in the storm. See newspapers for more info. Time : N/A see newspaper? Track Length : At least 5km / TPSS = 4.81km (~3mi), Shape : N/A, “called a spook twister”, Deaths: 0 (9 cats); likely $10,000s
• Tilbury (1959)
  The owner of the farm which was hit watched the tornado form from a black cloud into a large funnel. It was noted to have had an erratic or sinusoidal motion as it zig-zagged across fields. The man watched the tornado rip boards and roofing from his barn before it lifted the whole building up and sent it crashing in pieces to the ground. The tornado then lifted shortly after leaving the property after ravaging a cornfield. Track Length : UTM = 1.44km (0.9mi) / TPSS = 2km, Direction : UTM = 214° (SW-NE) / TPSS = 230°
• St. Catharines (1959)
  “Gusts to 80mph” Very little info. Check newspaper for details. Direction : N/A° possibly W-E
• Waterford (1959)
  “John Scott, manager of Big Creek Conservation Authority said he saw a funnel shaped cloud approach from the west. He was buffeted about in a truck as it passed.” See newspapers for more details. Direction : 270° W-E; “$Thousands”
• Norman (1959)
  TPSS with location, date, and a brief description of tornado and damage. See references for more info. Damage Cost: N/A, likely $1,000s
• Jarratt, Medonte Township (1959)
  A “violent twister” struck along a narrow front at the height of an intense thunderstorm and blew down most of a barn, sending debris flying nearly a half mile downwind. A man was killed by lightning in Honey Harbor the same afternoon. Storm described as the worst of the year. Time : Early PM Clock stopped at 12:20 EST, Direction : UTM = 236° (SW-NE), Damage Cost: N/A, likely around $10,000
• Alliston (1959)
  A witness who was working in his shed observed the storm coming and took shelter in his house. Once inside he saw a tree fly past the door and then went to the basement. Other reports of storm damage come from Nashville, Guelph, Toronto, Oustic, Thornhill, and Willowdale. Not noted if this was a squall event. Time listed as Night, Direction : UTM = 286° (WNW-ESE)
• Oustic (1959)
  “A funnel shaped cloud dipped from the sky” Time listed as Night, Track Length : N/A likely brief touchdown, Direction : N/A° likely NW-SE
• Etobicoke (1958)
  “The funnel briefly touched down along unbuilt section of 401 highway. (pilot report) About 100 feet above ground most of the time. “Boiling” cut and CB built at the clearing edge of (cold front?)” From YYZ WX observation records and personal recollection from P. Elms. Track Length : N/A brief touchdown, Direction : N/A° Likely WSW-ENE
• Belwood Lake (1958)
  Referenced as a funnel of short duration which did mostly minor damage. A woman described it as a mini-tornado. No precip or other phenomena mentioned. Time listed as P.M, Track Length : N/A, likely <1km, Direction : N/A° Likely W - E
• Merlin (1958)
  A strong early morning tornado touched down just southeast of Merlin and tracked southeast toward the shore of Lake Erie, of which it dissipated over. Three buildings were damaged or destroyed by the tornado as it tracked over the rural farming community. No funnel mentioned in notes but early risers may have witnessed it. (notes seem to indicate that) UTM = 323° (NW-SE)
• LaSalle (1958)
  “Several witnesses saw the funnels come in from the Detroit River.” Debris was seen being lofted about an estimated 500ft into the air, and consisted of roofing material, paper, and other particles. One woman said she did not hear any roar. A small rowboat was reportedly picked up by the apparent “roaring” tornado and deposited two (or three) blocks inland. (a resident said it flew over a house) One man saw two distinct tornadoes, one followed after the other. After tracking over LaSalle, they were seen simultaneously lifting back into the storm base. (see photo) Time : 2:00PM EST (newspaper = 4:10PM EDT), Track Length : UTM = 6.91km (4.29mi) / TPSS = at least 7km Note: some of the distance occurred over the U.S, Direction : UTM = 256° (WSW-ENE) / TPSS = 250°, Damage Cost: “$70,000” -NOTE: this number may have been an error and for the Leamington tornado the same day.
• Leamington (1958)
  “Workmen at the greenhouses ‘heard a roar like a hundred trains’.” Damage was congruent with a strong tornado as trees were twisted and thrown. Possible F2 type damage likely as a buildings had roofs and walls removed with secondary missile damage. Barn roof blown over house, which also had its roof removed. Sunniland Farms 5 acre greenhouse (one of the largest in Ontario) was essentially destroyed. One witness may have accidentally driven into the tornado: “…I ran into a solid wall of water, so dense I could hardly see through it. At the same instant, there was a roar, like an airliner flying about 50 feet away, and something jarred the car for an instant, almost as if it had hit something and glanced off.” – from Windsor Star Direction : UTM = 220° (SW-NE), Shape : N/A possibly rain-wrapped (see below) but barn seen being destroyed, Damage Cost: >$500,000
• Weston (1956)
  Confirmed tornado tracked across the north side of Toronto, touching down in the Weston area, and travelling nearly 20km west before lifting off near Scarborough Junction. See listed references for additional information None in EC file. Check listed references for images. The one death needs to be confirmed
• Dublin (1956)
  Only info from news clipping with damage noted. Barn blown down = F2 rating. May need upgrade. Direction : 226° (SW-NE)
• Bradley to Tara (1956)
  Barns wrecked and therefore F2 rating applies. Needs upgrading. Strong probable tornado plowed a path of destruction at least 11km through the Paisley area. One person noted to have been killed near Tara. (needs to be confirmed) Heavy damage occurred along tornado path with many farms taking the full force of the tornado. Roads in the area were blocked so badly with debris that a man in Kincardine had to drive 50mi to get to his home in Greenock Township near Paisley. See newspapers and locals for more information. UTM = 28.94km (17.98mi) Re-assessment = 11.16km (6.93mi), Direction : UTM = 208° (SSW-NNE) Re-assessment = 215° (SW-NE), Damage Cost: Likely >$100,000 (estimated $250K between two tors)
• Atwood to Listowel (1956)
  A powerful tornado touched down just west of Atwood in Elma Township and tracked over 20km to the ENE ripping through the Listowel area. Witnesses said the sky went pitch black and a roaring sound was heard as the tornado struck. It destroyed at least five barns, unroofed at least eight buildings with others suffering partial roof damage, and destroyed or damaged many other structures and properties. Likely a high-end F2. One of 3 tornadoes to touchdown in Bruce/Huron/Perth area on the afternoon of the 8th. Track Length : UTM = 24.73km (15.37mi) Re-assessment = 22.19km (13.79mi), Direction : UTM = 243° (WSW-ENE), Shape : N/A, A funnel shaped wind was seen approaching Listowel. Damage Cost: Likely >$100,000 (estimated $250K between the two tors)
• Tobermory (1956)
  Probable tornado struck the port of Tobermory just before midnight on May 13. A local resident said that it sounded like the roar of a freight train. A well built sawmill was destroyed with only its foundation left; this would constitute an F2 rating. Max Width : N/A (narrow), Direction : UTM = 207° (SSW-NNE), Shape : N/A may have been seen?
• LaSalle (1956)
  End of F4 tornado in Allen Park MI. Track Length : 5.24km (3.26mi) [full track length=12.86km (~8mi)], Direction : 290° (WNW-ESE)
• Edgewood Beach to McGregor (1956)
  A strong to violent tornado. Incredibly, everyone in the area survived and there were mostly minor injuries. Even animals managed to escape injury as they crawled out of wrecked barns. In one almost unbelievable case, a man had his house removed from around him as he sat unscathed on a chair in his kitchen. At another house, at least two people managed to survive as the structure was demolished. The area of McGregor is where the worst damage was said to have occurred. Track Length : UTM = 16.78km (10.43mi) Re-assessment = 13.72km (8.53mi), Max Width : 100yds (~100m) or (~330ft), Direction : UTM = 284° (WNW-ESE) Re-assessment = 280° (W-E)
• Wardsville (1955)
  “A large scale storm system swept across the Great Lakes. Tornadoes were reported in northern Ohio and it is likely that the account of rain, hail and wind storms in Essex and Kent counties could also refer to tornadoes.” Barn blown apart: if it was of sound condition, would warrant F2 rating. Possible tornado. Maybe investigate other storm reports that day? Only archived tornado document for year of 1955. likely ~$10,000
• Thorold (1954)
  The only known witness, the property owner of where the damage took place said: “There was a terrific wind for a few minutes which carried the silo one way and its roof another. It also picked up lawn chairs and carried them about 150 feet. It’s the first time in my life, and I’ve lived here for 68 years, that we ever had and damage from the wind. Fortunately no one was injured.” Map indicates the damaged property could have been in St. Johns West, Effingham, and newspaper indicates “Mountain Road area 3mi south of Thorold”, although Mountain Road is in Niagara Falls. Maybe investigate? Time listed as Early PM; likely <$5,000
• Galt (1954)
  Tornado touched down just west of Galt (now Cambridge) and tracked for roughly 8km to the east over the town, doing light to moderate damage with the occasional considerable destruction. Witness(es) indicated it looked like a cloud of smoke as it approached. A barn which was full of Christmas parade paraphernalia worth $6,000 was completely demolished. (this constitutes F2 damage) A possible second tornado occurred to the north, tracking over Preston and Puslinch Lake as heavy damage was reported in those areas after the storm. Time listed as Late PM, Max Width : N/A – may have been noted by a witness? Direction : 272° (W-E), Damage Cost: $10,000s