Why Ontario leads Canada in tornadoes, according to Environment Canada
Residents across eastern Ontario should continue watching the skies as tornado season remains active through the summer, according to Environment Canada Senior Climatologist David Phillips.
Phillips said Ontario sees more tornadoes than any other province in Canada, making severe summer weather a regular part of life.
He said tornadoes develop when warm, humid and unstable air combines with strong lifting forces, often along a cold front. While they can happen at any time, they are most common between 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., when daytime heating is strongest.
Phillips said severe weather usually gives people warning before a tornado forms.
Ontario has already documented several tornadoes so far this year, below the provincial average of about 36 annually. Eastern Ontario has still seen a few tornadoes, including near Verona, Kingston and the Ottawa Valley around Canada Day.
He encouraged families to stay informed through weather alerts, radio broadcasts and cell phone notifications, and to have a safety plan ready before severe weather strikes.
Story by: Emily Chatwood
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