Severe storm in Ontario confirmed as first tornado of 2017
Digital Reporter
Thursday, April 27, 2017, 10:50 AM - A powerful storm in early April that left significant damage in the London, Ont. area is confirmed to be Canada's first tornado of 2017.
Environment Canada launched an investigation following the April 11 storm, in partnership with The University of Western Ontario.
The post-storm investigation, coupled with the university's damage survey, finds that the storm damage is the product of both an EF-1 tornado with peak winds up to 150 kilometres per hour, and downburst winds.
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The tornado, which intensified northeast of London, Ont., destroyed a barn roof (pictured below) and tore down trees and hydro poles.
Image courtesy of Harry Schut, Nature Photographer/Instant Weather.
Its path was roughly 11 km long and 200 metres wide.
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Just a couple more from earlier pic.twitter.com/R10YISqc8x
— Nate Leis (@nate_leis) April 12, 2017
The first twister of the year came in the midst of thunderstorms across southwestern Ontario, which brought strong winds, small hail, heavy downpours, and frequent lightning in its wake.
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