Canada’s only F5 tornado hit the ground near Elie, Man., on June 22, 2007.

The theories of tornado formation

Even with the very best of modern technology, the definitive answer hasn’t been found

Even with the very best of modern technology, we’re still not sure about the science behind how tornadoes form.

The sky darkens over central Manitoba after a hot summer day. PHOTO: ALEXIS STOCKFORD

Thunderstorms and straight-line winds

Straight-line winds in thunderstorms can cause as much damage as a tornado

Straight-line winds in thunderstorms can cause as much damage as a tornado and are next on our weather school list exploring how and why severe summer weather forms.



Hail coats the ground on a Canadian farm field.

Explaining severe summer weather: Hail

Understanding the science behind hail on the Canadian Prairies — how it forms and why it tends to be worse in some provinces

Hail is a common and potentially dangerous form of precipitation which is commonly seen during thunderstorms on the Canadian Prairies. But how does it happen?



Many industry sectors depend on the existing power infrastructure and operate without redundancy that could keep them running when the power goes out.

Blizzards are inescapable but their costs aren’t always

The most expensive winter storm damage is largely preventable

Winter storms can easily become billion-dollar disasters as the snow piles up on highways and, in the most extreme examples, collapses roofs and power lines. Yet while cancelled flights and business interruptions can’t be avoided, what turns a snowstorm into a disaster often can be. I have worked for three decades on engineering strategies to


A funnel cloud all by itself is not considered a tornado.

Severe summer weather: tornadoes

Funnel clouds are usually weak, short-lived and rarely strong enough to touch down

For most people, the word tornado brings feelings of awe and even a little fear. Unless you have already witnessed a tornado first-hand, many who are interested in weather secretly wish they could safely experience its awesome beauty and power. Worldwide, Canada is second only to the United States in the number of tornadoes occurring

Certain conditions can take a storm to the next level. photo: Xander/istock/getty images

Back to our look at severe summer weather

What makes a garden-variety thunderstorm an event to truly remember?

In the last issue we discussed humidity and dew point, and no, I did not realize at the time we were going to see some ridiculously high dew points during the short-lived heat wave that hit us on June 19. If you recall the article, life-threatening dew points have begun to occur in some subtropical


“Funnel clouds are generally very weak and short-lived and will rarely become strong enough or last long enough to touch down.”

Is that a cold air funnel or a tornado?

Super cell thunderstorms, from which tornadoes usually develop, are tough to predict

In this article, we continue our look at severe thunderstorms, and specifically the most deadly part: tornadoes. What are tornadoes and how do they form? A classic definition of a tornado is a violently rotating column of air that extends from a thunderstorm to the ground, and which may or may not be visible as

Tornado with dark storm clouds

Continuing with severe summer weather: Tornadoes

The peak tornado months within Canada’s tornado season are approaching

I know in the May 23 issue I said we would take a break from our annual look at severe weather and take a look back at the spring of 2019, then see what the latest long-range forecasts say. It appears I was a little ahead of myself as there are still five days left