Environment Canada confirms tornado in Ontario

Environment Canada confirmed Wednesday that a tornado occurred in Ontario, the second of the season.

On Tuesday at 3 p.m. ET, a tornado occurred near Glenarm, Ont., a small community in the City of Kawartha Lakes, Environment Canada confirmed in a special weather statement.

The tornado, categorized as an enhanced Fujita scale 2 (EF-2), occurred about 12 km west of Fenelon Falls. The measurement scale goes from EF-0 (weakest) to EF-5 (the strongest).

The main damage from the tornado was a roof being torn off a house in the area, according to Environment Canada’s statement. The government agency said the damage is consistent with the low end of an EF-2 category, or wind speeds between 180 and 200 km per hour.

A damage survey is continuing in the area to determine the full length and width of the damage path from the tornado, Environment Canada said. It will also investigate other reported damage in the area and will update the public as soon as new information is available, its alert noted.

This pic and others from @puppyshop suggest a tornado may have touched down in Fenelon Falls this afternoon: twitter.com/puppyshop/stat… #onstorm

— The Weather Network (@weathernetwork) May 21, 2013

The tornado is the second of the season in Ontario. The province normally has about 12 tornadoes each year between late April and early October, according to Environment Canada. 

Thunderstorms also occurred Tuesday evening, also causing damage in the southern and central part of the province. According to published reports, more than 3,000 Ontario Hydro customers were left without power because of the storm, which brought severe winds, rain and hail to the area. 

The Canadian Press also reported that a vehicle was blown off the road into a ditch near Orangeville, Ont., but that was due to heavy wind only and not a tornado. 

Environment Canada said Wednesday there was a slight risk of severe thunderstorms overnight in eastern and southern Ontario, with non-severe thunderstorms possibly continuing Thursday.  

Severe storm in North York heading toward Scarborough. Large hail, strong winds possible within 30 min. #onstorm twitter.com/mrvortex/statu…

— Martin Belanger (@mrvortex) May 21, 2013