Tornado confirmed to have touched down in Penetanguishene, Ont.
Experts say an EF-0 tornado wreaked havoc during Tuesday's storm in Penetanguishene, uprooting trees and downing power lines.
The Northern Tornadoes Project (NTP) said the twister was 300 meters wide and had wind speeds up to 125km/h leaving a trail of debris 2.5 km long.
The following day, crews wielding chain saws cleaned up dozens of broken trees that fell across roads.
The strong winds moved a 10-meter boat off its blocks, and residents recalled hearing thunder so loud "it was like a freight train."
NTP said the tornado was in the upper end of an EF-0 designation based on their preliminary ground survey.
The group still has to analyze drone images to solidify that it was an EF-0.
They tweeted a map of the path of damage left behind by the tornado.
MUSKOKA STORM DAMAGE
Environment Canada's severe weather meteorologist Geoff Coulson said a preliminary assessment of the damage in the Tasso Lake and Lake of Bays area was the work of a downburst. He added the evaluation is ongoing.
"We decided to go to the basement where it's safest," said Lake of Bays resident Jan Sirek of the storm Tuesday.
Several trees crashed down on Sirek's house, bringing down power lines.
"There's probably 69 per cent or more of our trees have been taken out. Many of the docks are severely damaged, boats are flipped over," he added.
Residents said the storm came on quickly and dissipated even faster.
Roughly 49,000 people lost power because of the storm, Hydro One reported. Crews were in the area first thing Wednesday morning repairing and replacing hydro poles.
NORTHERN TORNADOES PROJECT (NTP)
NTP is a research team founded in 2017 by Western University and ImpactWX. Their mandate is to document all tornadoes in Canada.
According to the National Weather Service, the Enhanced Fujita Scale or EF Scale started in 2007 and assigns a rating to a tornado based on estimated wind speeds and damage.
The Enhanced Fujita Scale has five main levels categorized in the following manner:
EF-0
Estimated wind speeds of 65 to 85 mph are considered Gale force.
Damage is typically considered light with trees down and some roof and siding damage.
EF-1
Estimated wind speeds are 86 to 110 mph and classified as Weak.
Damage can include broken windows, roof and door damage. Some mobile homes can be over turned.
EF-2
Estimated wind speeds are 111 to 135 mph and considered Strong.
Considerable damage happens to homes and vehicles, and trees during these events.
EF-3
Estimated wind speeds of 136 to 165 mph are classified as Severe.
Homes and large buildings sustain serious damage, and cars are thrown around.
EF-4
Estimated wind speeds here are 166 to 200 mph and are considered to be Devastating.
Whole homes are levelled.
EF-5
Estimated wind speeds of over 200 mph are classified as Incredible.
Vehicles can be thrown more than 100 m., homes are levelled, and tall buildings sustain significant structural damage.
(Source: National Weather Service)
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Several flight attendants from Pakistan have gone missing after landing in Canada
Multiple flight attendants from Pakistan International Airlines have abandoned their jobs and are believed to have sought asylum in Canada in the past year and a half, a spokesperson for the government-owned airline says.
BREAKING Ottawa public school board, 3 Toronto-area school boards launch lawsuit against social media giants
The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board and three school boards in the Toronto-area have launched legal action against social media giants, accusing them of "disrupting students' fundamental right to education."
Rainfall warnings of up to 90 mm among weather alerts in effect for 7 provinces
Rainfall warnings of up to 90 millimetres, air quality advisories and other alerts have been issued for seven Canadian provinces, according to the latest forecasts.
Tipping is off the table at this Toronto restaurant
A Toronto restaurant introduced a surprising new rule that reduced the cost of a meal and raised the salaries of staff.
A Nigerian woman reviewed some tomato puree online. Now she faces jail
A Nigerian woman who wrote an online review of a can of tomato puree is facing imprisonment after its manufacturer accused her of making a “malicious allegation” that damaged its business.
Donald Trump assails judge and his daughter after gag order in N.Y. hush-money criminal case
Donald Trump lashed out Wednesday at the New York judge who put him under a gag order that bars him from commenting publicly about witnesses, prosecutors, court staff and jurors in his upcoming hush-money criminal trial.
A fight to protect the dignity of Michelangelo's David raises questions about freedom of expression
Michelangelo's David has been a towering figure in Italian culture since its completion in 1504. But in the current era of the quick buck, curators worry the marble statue's religious and political significance is being diminished.
Doctors visiting a Gaza hospital are stunned by the war's toll on Palestinian children
An international team of doctors visiting a hospital in central Gaza was prepared for the worst. But the gruesome impact Israel’s war against Hamas is having on Palestinian children still left them stunned.
China's latest EV is a 'connected' car from smart phone and electronics maker Xiaomi
Xiaomi, a well-known maker of smart consumer electronics in China, is joining the country's booming but crowded market for electric cars.