TORONTO – A mix of cooler-than-normal temperatures across southern Ontario and warmer lake conditions is creating conditions that are perfect for waterspouts, or tornadoes over water.
On Tuesday, Environment Canada issued a waterspout watch for Lake Erie, Lake St. Clair and southern Lake Huron. The watch is in effect from 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.
There are two types of waterspouts: tornadic waterspouts and fair-weather waterspouts.
As its name suggests, a tornadic waterspout is spawned from thunderstorms over a body of water. A fair-weather waterspout also forms over water, but occur with cumulus clouds.
Southern Ontario is going through a few days with temperatures slightly lower than normal. For example, in St. Thomas, near Lake Erie, usually sees daytime temperatures near 27 C and a low of 16. Instead, St. Thomas is forecast to see a daytime high of near 20 C and a low of 14 C over the next day or so.
Meanwhile, the surface temperatures of Lake Erie, for example, are close to 25 C in some parts. Though the temperature will be lower the farther you descend, it’s still warmer than the air aloft. Mixed with other factors such as winds, this creates good conditions for waterspouts to develop.
Boaters are advised to be cautious.
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Geoff Coulson, warning preparedness meteorologist with Environment Canada said that, because of the nature of these waterspouts – which require the warm water – there is no real threat to land.
“That being said, there is a possibility of dock damage, and boats… lawn furniture being close to the shoreline,” he said. “Normally what we’re talking about is wind speeds of 80 to 90 km/h.
“If you see one of these things on the lake my best advice is to give them a wide berth.”
Typically at this time of year, Toronto’s daytime high is 27 C with a low of 17 C. On Monday, the daytime high was expected to be close to 22 C with a low of 12 C.
A watch is issued when conditions are favourable for severe weather. A warning is when hazardous weather is imminent or occurring.
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