If you’ve noticed an increase in tornadoes across southwestern Ontario this year, you’re correct.
As reported by the Northern Tornadoes Project (NTP), there have been six tornadoes recorded in the area, with the latest occurring Thursday near Glencoe. Since the NTP started tracking this data in 2017, the region has averaged about six tornadoes annually, but 2023 is expected to reach nine.
“I have a feeling we’ll be over the normal number of tornadoes this year,” said Dr. David Sills, Director of the NTP.
It’s tough to identify one specific cause for this year’s uptick. Sills pointed out that one factor contributing to multiple tornado occurrences each year is the area’s closeness to the U. S. He mentioned that there’s not enough research to indicate climate change is a significant factor.
“No one’s really tied it to climate change directly yet, but it certainly fits with a lot of what we’re seeing with other aspects of climate change, like more droughts and forest fires,” said Sills.
One noticeable trend has been an increase in alerts. Sills noted that NTP suggested Environment Canada enhance their number of tornado watches and warnings.
“I think people would appreciate getting that warning before a tornado happens, rather than not having a warning at all,” he explained.
Sills believes these warnings are a big reason why many folks have become aware of how many tornadoes have occurred this year.
Another interesting point about these tornadoes is their size. Each is measured on the Fujita scale from zero to five, with higher numbers indicating more severe storms. None of the tornadoes since 2017 have exceeded level one, with the last rated as two happening back in 2016 in Windsor.
Even though recent tornadoes rank low on severity scales, Sills warned that ignoring them could lead to serious trouble.
“[Once in St. Thomas] there was a stack of wood in front of this restaurant, and it took one of the 2x4s and sent it through the wall of the restaurant,” he shared.
Sills added that while these tornadoes might not be deadly, they can still cause considerable damage.
Source link
Source link
