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
BREAKING Person engulfed in flames outside N.Y. courthouse where Trump trial underway, says CNN
A person was covered in flames outside the New York courthouse where former President Donald Trump's criminal hush money trial is underway, CNN reported on Friday.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
Senators reject field trip to African Lion Safari amid elephant bill study
The Senate legal affairs committee has rejected a motion calling for members to take a $50,000 field trip to the African Lion Safari in southern Ontario to see the zoo's elephant exhibit.
CFIA monitoring for avian flu in Canadian dairy cattle after U.S. discoveries
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is encouraging veterinarians to keep an eye out for signs of avian influenza in dairy cattle following recent discoveries of cases of the disease in U.S. cow herds.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
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.
'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.
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.
Vancouver firefighter in rehab at home after losing leg to flesh-eating infection overseas
A family trip took a frightening turn for Christopher Won when he was diagnosed with flesh-eating disease while in Hong Kong and now, after weeks of treatment overseas, the Vancouver firefighter is back home recovering.