First tornado in nearly 20 years confirmed in Prince Edward Island
Rare tornado and waterspout confirmed in P.E.I. amid Wednesday's severe storms
A mid-afternoon storm on Wednesday brought high winds, hail, heavy rain, and lightning to Prince Edward Island. In a rare event for the province, the Northern Tornadoes Project (NTP) has confirmed a tornado and a waterspout, as well.
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Video captured near Little Harbour, east of Souris, shows a tornado causing tree damage. NTP has given it a preliminary EF0 rating, with estimated maximum winds of 115 km/h. Further analysis, including satellite imagery, is pending.
Another video captured a waterspout over Rollo Bay, west of Souris. No damage was reported in this case.
The storm was highly variable, switching between heavy rain, sunshine, and downpours. Charlottetown police also issued warnings about localized flooding within the city.
First tornado in nearly 20 years
Wednesday’s tornado marked the first in nearly two decades for P.E.I. The last confirmed tornado occurred on August 19, 2007, when a waterspout came ashore in Crapaud County and was classified as an EF0.
The most notable tornado on record for the province was an EF1 in 1974. That storm caused significant damage along an 18-kilometre stretch west of Charlottetown, flattening cornfields and lifting a mobile home off its foundation.