$20-million for new 'Severe Storms Laboratory' at Western University

The University of Western Ontario is getting a $20-million investment for a new Canadian Severe Storms Laboratory (CSSL).

The gift from ImpactWX will further the study of atmospheric science in Canada and will position the CSSL as the authoritative source for severe thunderstorm data and research in the country.

Northern Tornadoes Project Executive Director David Sills described the funding that will help create the Canadian Severe Storms Laboratory as transformative, "In the atmospheric sciences, I really don't know of any other example like this. I mean, you hear about it in the health sciences and this kind of thing, but this is a really unique situation. I don't even think just in Canada, but globally, that we've got someone that's, you know, a weather enthusiast running this social impact fund that is willing to fund this kind of research."

Storm damage in Exeter, Ont. is seen on Monday, July 20, 2020. (Scott Miller / CTV London)

Anyone that chases storms in southwestern Ontario will be familiar with Western’s track record in weather research and archiving, however this funding hopes to expand it’s already top tier work. “ImpactWX’s continued investment and the launch of the CSSL will amplify our research capacity significantly,” said Western President Alan Shepard. “Gathering essential storm data and providing critical analysis will help inform policy and will result in real damage prevention and mitigation strategies to help people, communities and businesses right across the country."

Storm clean up is underway in Goderich, Ont. on Monday, Nov. 2, 2020. (Scott Miller / CTV News)

Under the umbrella of the CSSL, Western engineering researchers will continue the successful national tornado and hail investigative initiatives that Western has already undertaken.

Greg Kopp is a professor in Western University’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. He said the new lab will allow them to build on their data gathering and analysis expertise developed through the Northern Tornadoes Project and Northern Hail Project. They will transfer that expertise to other severe storm events, including flooding, "One of the things that we see is when you get a hail storm, for example, it blocks the drains and you start to get flooding. And, so, we're starting to try to look at all hazards. But flooding, I think, is going to be a challenge. It's going to take some different tools and we're working on those."

Leaders from both the NSSL and the European Severe Storm Laboratory, as well as meteorologists, engineers and storm impact scientists from around the world, are meeting in London, Ont. this week to mark the launch of the CSSL with a one-day research symposium at Western on Oct. 29.