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Environment Canada updates 2013 Ontario tornado count

The tornado outside of Arthur, Ont. on Aug. 7, 2013. David T. Chapman

TORONTO – Three more tornadoes were added to Ontario’s tornado season tally on Tuesday bringing the total to 22.

Environment Canada investigated a rare November tornado that struck Prescott, south of Ottawa on Nov. 23.

A farm silo and other minor damage was reported. Environment Canada investigators determined that the tornado was an EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, with winds estimated at 150 km/h.

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The Enhanced Fujita scale measures tornadoes based on wind speeds. The scale ranges from weak tornadoes (EF0) to devastating tornadoes (EF5).

There have been three other late-season tornadoes reported in Ontario: in Leamington on Nov. 29, 1919; Exeter on Dec. 12, 1946; Hamilton on Nov. 9, 2005.

The investigators also went back and analyzed two more tornadoes that occurred earlier in the season: one that struck Teviotdale, south of Mount Forest on July 19, and another that occurred in Magiskan Lake, northeast of Cochrane on Aug. 2. Both tornadoes were measured as EF0.

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On average about 12 tornadoes are reported each year.

Though it seems that there has been a sharp increase in tornadoes for 2013, the number is a bit deceiving. With more people, more technology, and more awareness, tornado reports are increasing.

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