Researchers have confirmed that a tornado did indeed hit Stewiacke, N.S. a couple weeks ago — destroying a barn and causing damage to other structures and trees.
The Northern Tornadoes Project, in collaboration with Environment and Climate Change Canada, investigated the storm, which took place on June 30.
“It caused EF1 damage to a barn (max wind speed 155 km/h), developing on the leading edge of a bow-echo storm that also produced a damaging downburst,” the Northern Tornadoes Project wrote in a tweet.
At the time, the Stewiacke Fire Department said it responded to seven calls — including downed power lines, trees on fire and a house struck by lightning — in under two hours.
The next morning, a resident shared a photo of the destroyed barn with Global News, showing debris strewn across a field.
Resident Michelle Anthony told Global News the storm came without warning, while she was sitting outside.
“I felt a few splats and before I could get up out of my chair, the skies opened up,” she said.
“My husband and I ran into the house and the winds picked up and the trees started bending.”
The investigators noted a downburst was also recorded in New Brunswick.
The event was the first tornado of the year in Nova Scotia.