Items

• Golspie to Eastwood (1856)
  Strong significant tornado witnessed by many locals as it tracked through the area. Detailed description of storm progression and tornado in newspaper. Noted to have sounded like Niagara Falls. Many people attempted to shelter as it approached, most avoiding serious injury or death, while others unfortunately were caught in the midst of the violence, and were either seriously injured or killed. At least 4 people lost their lives, making it the 3rd (?) deadliest Canadian tornado up to that point in time. Track Length: “10mi” UTM~13.5km, Direction: ~275° (W-E), Injuries: “at least 11”, Deaths: “4, one other not expected to live” “cattle, 20 sheep, dog, fowl”, Damage Cost: Likely thousands of dollars at the time.
• Niagara on the Lake (1854)
  TBD if possible tornado occurred.
• Toronto (1854)
  Confirmed tornado sighting on Dundas Street “about half a mile north-west of the Lunatic Asylum.” Direction: ~315° (NW-SE)
• Lake Scugog, Sanford-Manchester-Enniskillen (1850)
  Known as the “Lake Scugog Tornado” - a long-tracking large and violent tornado. Up to approximately 1 mile wide in some areas. Somewhat sinusoidal path through eastern York County and most of Durham Region (known as Ontario County at the time) where the towns of Manchester near Port Perry, and Enniskillen and nearby Hayden were suffered much damage, injury and death. The storm was said to have continued on to the SE to as far away as Albany, New York, a distance of 500km. Direction: 287°; Deaths: 3, possibly 4 (many other animal deaths)
• Coldwater (1859)
  Significant probable tornado. Buildings destroyed and debris scattered. No major injuries or deaths due to the early time of day when the storm struck. Time: "Just before daybreak"
• Ross Township (1859)
  Significant deadly tornado. Possibly underrated. Noted as a “terrific tornado” in newspaper. Time: Early morning
• Brockville (1859)
  Possible tornado touchdown in Brockville. No indication of funnel in reports. Time: Evening
• Whitby (1858)
  Possible tornado produced by severe thunderstorm which passed through the Whitby area where a sizeable amount of damage was done. Hailstones “the size of good-sized gooseberries” also caused damage to the area. Track Length: storm noted to have possibly originated near Lake Simcoe, Max Width: possibly “half a mile”, Direction: NNW-SSE? “seemed” to have come from eastern end of Lake Simcoe, Shape: N/A, described as “a violent hurricane”, Deaths: 0 (5 cattle)
• St. Mary's (1858)
  “Great Storm. – On Friday last we were visited by a violent storm accompanied with hail. We hear of houses and barns being unroofed, fences blown away, trees uprooted, and a vast amount of property injured by the severity of the wind. Hailstones fell which measured six inches in circumference." –St. Mary’s Journal, June 9th.
• Toronto (1857)
  Possible tornado touched down in the east end of Toronto as a severe storm passed over.
• Hamilton (1857)
  No F-rating for this possible tornado. Damage indicates violent winds were present during severe thunderstorm.
• Toronto (1857)
  Tornado confirmed by witnesses who observed the storm tracking into Toronto. Areas east of the city including Brampton were severely flooded. Track Length: (map indicates <1km track), Direction: map indicates WSW-ENE
• Guelph (1857)
  Possible nocturnal tornado in Guelph as a severe thunderstorm with hail moved through the area. Deaths: 0 (1 horse)
• Bell River Station (1857)
  Possible tornado referred to in newspaper as “a sudden squall of rain and wind came on which has not been equalled for many years in this locality.”
• West Winchester (1856)
  Storm referred to definitively as a tornado in newspaper. Unknown if it began in Kemptville, however indications of damage were evident there. Track Length: N/A, may have tracked from Kemptville to Winchester ~24km, Shape: “a fearful tornado”, Injuries: “several”, Deaths: 1? (likely 1 pig as well)
• Brighton (1856)
  Probably a significant tornado. Newspaper reported that men working in the building destroyed “saw the gale coming” and fled the area. Time: During the work day, Track Length: “storm passed through the centre of the township…”
• Meaford to Collingwood, Port Dalhouse, Niagara on the Lake, Whitby to Oshawa (1855)
  First of 4 significant tornadoes to touch down across southern Ontario in the early morning hours of April 18th. Most of the structural damage occurred in the town of Collingwood as townsfolk were still asleep as the storm struck. In one case, a couple sleeping had their bed thrown out of the second floor of their house as the tornado ripped the side off it. Damage Cost ~$6000, Direction: “The course of the storm seems to have followed the south shore of Georgian Bay, from Meaford to Collingwood Harbour, sweeping round the base of the Blue Mountains, and levelling in its passage very considerable tracts of land.”
• Dunnville (1854)
  Probable destructive tornado noted as a “sudden gust of wind” during a thunderstorm which passed through the town of Dunnville. Brick building destroyed may constitute F3 damage? Time: Evening; Injuries: 1 life-threatening
• Toronto (1854)
  Possible tornado during severe thunderstorm over Toronto. Track length: possibly ~10km, Injuries listed as unknown
• Hecks Corner (1851)
  Possible damaging tornado during fierce thunderstorm near Prescott. Time: Morning
• Windfall (1851)
  A confirmed large tornado tracked through the area ~7km north of Wheatley. The hamlet was named after the storm as a large swath of trees were downed. Time: Mid-afternoon