If you've been thinking there have been more tornadoes than usual across southwestern Ontario this year, you would be right.
According to the Northern Tornadoes Project (NTP), there have been six tornadoes in the region, with the most recent happening Thursday near Glencoe. Since the NTP began in 2017, the area has seen around six tornadoes per year, with 2023 seeing the most with nine.
"I have a feeling we'll be over the normal number of tornadoes this year," said Dr. David Sills, Director of the NTP.
It's impossible to pinpoint one specific reason for the increase this year. Sills explained that one reason the area sees multiple tornadoes every year is its proximity to the U.S. He added that there isn't enough research to suggest that climate change is playing a major role.
"No one's really tied it to climate change directly yet, but it certainly fits with a lot of what we're seeing with other aspects of climate change, like more droughts and forest fires," said Sills.
One thing people have been noticing more of are alerts. Sills said the NTP recommended that Environment Canada increase the number of tornado watches and warnings.
"I think people would appreciate getting that warning before a tornado happens, rather than not having a warning at all," he explained.
Sills thinks the warnings are a big reason why many people caught on to how many tornadoes have happened this year.
Another thing about these tornadoes that's caught Sill's attention is their size. Each is measured on the Fujita scale from zero to five, with the most severe at the higher end. None of the tornadoes since 2017 have surpassed one, with the last to be ranked as a two happening in 2016 in Windsor.
Even though the recent tornadoes are low on the severity scale, Sills said anyone who doesn't take them seriously could be in for a lot of trouble.
"[Once in St. Thomas] there was a stack of wood in front of this restaurant, and it took one of the 2x4s and sent it through the wall of the restaurant," he shared.
Sills added that these tornadoes, while perhaps not deadly, can cause significant damage.
