Two EF-1 tornadoes hit London during weekend thunderstorm
Saturday’s powerful storm left a lasting impact across Ontario as city crews continue to deal with the damage it left behind.
On Friday, Western University’s Northern Tornado Project reported that two EF-1 tornadoes touched down in London last weekend.
Environment Canada confirmed the group’s findings.
“The paths of damage are long and narrow, just a few hundred meters wide and kilometers long and that’s pretty much the telltale signs of a tornado,” said Dr. David Sills, the group’s executive director.
Sills helped investigate Saturday’s weather system which he said showed two locations in the city that were hit the hardest.
“The tornado started right here at this industrial building on Green Valley, knocking over a power pole…with lots of debris in the air,” he said.
Fallen trees are seen at Waterloo Street and Hyman Street in London, Ont. after a severe thunderstorm passed through the region on May 21, 2022. (Source: Shivang Padhiyar)
The Huron Heights area was also a target for one of the tornadoes in London.
“There was an apartment building that lost its roof covering and threw out a whole bunch of trees in the Huron Heights area, some very large and healthy that actually ended up at the airport that took off some hanger doors and flipped an airplane.”
Saturday’s severe weather left 10 people dead and caused severe damage to trees and buildings across the province.
“This is certainly one of the biggest storms I’ve seen,” said Scott Stafford, with the city’s parks and forestry department. “The amount of trees uprooted right out of the ground is substantial to other storms.”
A powerful thunderstorm rolled through southern Ontario on May 21, 2022, damaging buildings, toppling trees, and even flipping a small aircraft at London's airport. (Source: Richard Wozniak)
London city crews have been working around the clock to remove trees and debris from blocking roads and access to parks.
Stafford said the damage goes beyond forestry, as crews work to repair damage to roads, sidewalks and replant trees.
It could take several weeks or even months to repair all the damage from the storm, according to the city.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
WATCH Video shows dramatic police takedown of carjacking suspects chased through parking lot north of Toronto
Police have released video footage of a dramatic takedown of a group of teens wanted in connection with an attempted carjacking in Markham earlier this month.
After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
DEVELOPING G7 warns of new sanctions against Iran as world reacts to apparent Israeli drone attack
Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel, and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.
WHO likely to issue wider alert on contaminated cough syrup
The World Health Organization is likely to issue a wider warning about contaminated Johnson and Johnson-made children's cough syrup found in Nigeria last week, it said in an email.
Advocacy groups speak out against domestic violence comments by Nova Scotia minister
Several Nova Scotia groups that assist women are speaking out against comments on domestic violence by Justice Minister Brad Johns, and at least one is calling for his dismissal.
A couple lost their wedding rings during the ceremony. Two strangers found a fitting solution
Every good wedding has to have one teensy, tiny crisis.
'It was all my savings': Ontario woman loses $15K to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
Families to receive Canada Child Benefit payment on Friday
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.