The four theories of tornado formation

The four theories of tornado formation

Despite all the available knowledge and technology, we’re not entirely sure why they occur

Despite all the available knowledge and technology, we're not entirely sure why tornadoes happen, but here are our best guesses.


A refrigerator is stuck in a tree at Dawson Springs, Kentucky, about 140 km west of Bowling Green, on Dec. 13, 2021. (Photo: Reuters/Jon Cherry)

U.S. tornadoes destroy chickens, tractors, silos

Chicago | Reuters — A Deere dealership and a Pilgrim’s Pride chicken hatchery were destroyed when deadly tornadoes swept through Kentucky on Friday, while silos holding millions of bushels of corn suffered damage, the companies and the state’s agriculture commissioner said on Monday. At least 64 people, including six children, lost their lives in Kentucky

Hydro crews pull down damaged lines on June 22 after a tornado the previous day at Mascouche, Que., about 25 km north of Montreal.

Cold air and cold-core funnels

Even when or if cold-air funnels touch down, they rarely cause much damage

For this article, I debated whether I should discuss the short cold snap that brought some record-cold weather to southern and central regions the morning of June 22, along with the heatwave impacting far Western Canada, or continue our look at severe thunderstorms, and specifically, the deadliest part: tornadoes. I figure I can cover the


Floodwaters claim the main road access to the Brandon Municipal Airport on June 29, 2020.

Floodwaters rise in western Manitoba

WEATHER: Areas in and north of Brandon were particularly hard hit by intense storms that rolled through June 29.

Severe thunderstorms June 28 have left patches of western Manitoba fighting desperately to keep their heads above water. Areas around Brandon, Rapid City and north towards Riding Mountain National Park reported widespread flooding June 28-29. Brandon airport reported 155 millimetres of rain in a matter of hours, according to Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC),

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


Hurricane Florence and Ottawa’s tornadoes

For heaviest tropical-storm rain in that part of the U.S., Florence now holds the record

OK, OK — I’ll take the blame for our weather turning cold! As my family has so nicely pointed out, I jinxed it when I talked about how long the growing season has been and that we might be able to pull off a record-long season. Then, a couple of days later, what happens? Southern

VIDEO: Major storm hits Southern Manitoba

VIDEO: Major storm hits Southern Manitoba

Southern Manitoba is taking stock after major storms on June 14 brought a confirmed tornado touchdown near Waskada, Man., while a wide swath near the international border saw anywhere from quarter and toonie-sized hail to ice chunks the size of softballs. Total crop damage has yet to be determined.


What makes thunderstorms truly severe?

A storm in the middle of a warm air mass can’t get at the key ingredients for ‘severe’ status

As heat continues to build across the Prairies, the chances for thunderstorms have also increased. We began our look at thunderstorm fundamentals that lead to garden-variety thunderstorms, but while these types of thunderstorms are fun to watch, we all know how quickly they can turn into severe thunderstorms. A couple of weeks ago we talked

Severe summer weather and tornadoes, Part 1

Severe summer weather and tornadoes, Part 1

The skies offer some telltale signs that a severe storm may be en route

So far in our look at severe summer weather, and in particular thunderstorms, we have looked at how thunderstorms form, how they can grow into severe thunderstorms, and finally, how hail is produced. Next up on the severe thunderstorm list is tornadoes! Before we begin our look at tornadoes, though, I think we have to