A barn damaged by a one of two microbursts that struck southwestern Ontario, May 7, 2024. Photo provided by the Northern Tornadoes Project. A barn damaged by a one of two microbursts that struck southwestern Ontario, May 7, 2024. Photo provided by the Northern Tornadoes Project.
Chatham

Two microbursts confirmed in southwestern Ontario

A pair of microbursts are confirmed to have been behind extensive damage caused to two buildings during storms that rolled through southwestern Ontario earlier this week.

Western University's Northern Tornadoes Project (NTP) confirmed the microbursts hit Appin and Terminus, a small community northeast of Wallaceburg, during Tuesday night's storms. NTP investigators conducted a storm damage survey in the region on Wednesday, documenting the two microbursts.

They determined both had maximum wind speeds of 130 kilometres an hour, for an EF0 rating.

A barn in the Glendon Drive-area was severely damaged with a wall knocked down and chunks of the roof ripped off. A structure used to house farm equipment in Terminus was destroyed. A picture of the damage posted to social media by NTP shows the medal frame of the structure was twisted and broken by the powerful winds.

Environment Canada has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for the area prior to the microbursts.

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