2008 Storm Season Entries

JUL.31 - POSSIBLE TORNADO IN HICKSON YESTERDAY (Hickson is north of Woodstock)

JUL.22 - Tornado drops down in Welland, ON
A probable tornado touched down in Welland this afternoon (south of St. Catharines in the heart of Niagara). EC confirmation here.
Click thumbnails below for images:

(photo credit: Ashlie Luska)

JUL.9 - FIRST KILLER STORM OF THE YEAR IN ONTARIO YESTERDAY
A Toronto man was killed by lightning yesterday while standing under a tree during an intense thunderstorm. The 28yr old man was found by a nearby resident and pronounced dead at hospital.

I was able to get out on the road for this one (an excuse to use my new camcorder). Very visible core as I approached it from the outside, but unfortunately it turned HP very quick. Large hail reported in the area I was in (western Niagara on the Lake - Stewart Rd. area). Severe thunderstorm warning issued. Click on the thumbnails below for larger images (video captures) :

Click here for video!
(right-click and select "Save Target" to save to your computer and play from there in order to avoid playing problems)

JUN.25 - PHOTOS FROM JUN.22 TORNADO
Thanks to James Syme for sending in these photos:

JUN.23 - TORNADO YESTERDAY
A touchdown out side of St. Mary's, ON (near London) occurred yesterday getting much media attention on local weather news.

JUN.16 - ANOTHER LIGHTNING SHOW LAST, NIGHT AND YET ANOTHER SEVERE STORM TODAY!

JUN.13 - LIGHTNING SHOW!
Line of cells went through starting around 9:30pm and *really* put on a good lightning show. Constant lightning/thunder. Over 300 strikes per minute was recorded on a person's lightning detector.

- London Free Press: possible tornado and or funnel reports at Lucan, Sombra and Burgessville
- Chatham Daily News: possible tornado touchdown at Mitchell's Bay
- Sarnia Observer: possible tornado touchdown 30km east of Sarnia at hwy 402 (possibly photographed)

JUN.8 - SEVERE THUNDERSTORM @ 8PM (St. Catharines, ON)
Just some shots of the storm as it rolled through... (sorry for the rain drops on the window in the last couple - there's no way I was standing outside to shoot! :)

TORNADO WARNING

ISSUED BY ENVIRONMENT CANADA

AT 7:16 PM EDT SUNDAY 8 JUNE 2008.

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TORNADO WARNING FOR:

=NEW= ST. CATHARINES - GRIMSBY - NORTHERN NIAGARA REGION.

TORNADO WARNING ENDED FOR:

BRANTFORD - COUNTY OF BRANT.

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==DISCUSSION==

AT 7:10 PM RADAR SHOWS A POSSIBLE TORNADO APPROACHING THE GRIMSBY

AREA. THIS IS A WARNING THAT SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH TORNADOES ARE

IMMINENT OR OCCURRING IN THESE REGIONS. MONITOR WEATHER CONDITIONS.

TAKE IMMEDIATE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS.

JUN.5, 2008
Nice small but active cell went through starting at 22:15. Finally some nighttime lightning with clear conditions!

St. Catharines - Grimsby - northern Niagara region
2:20 PM EDT Saturday 31 May 2008
Severe thunderstorm watch for
St. Catharines - Grimsby - northern Niagara region continued

Persons in or near this area should be on the lookout for adverse weather conditions and take necessary safety precautions. Watch for updated statements.
Please refer to the latest public forecasts for further details and continue to monitor the situation through your local radio and television stations or Weatheradio.

MAY.30 - FIRST TORNADO OF THE YEAR!
On May 26th the first Ontario tornadoes of the year occurred at Windy Lake Provincial Park (near Sudbury) and another at Reynolds Lake NE of North Bay. Both have been confirmed as F0 tornadoes. (thanks to Dave Sills for the update)

In other news, it's been a slow start to the year here in Niagara with only a couple of week storms so far. Hopefully we'll get more photos and info up if/when the storm season picks up!

APR.11, 2008 - First thunderstorm of the year!
Nothing huge, but some bright flashes of lightning and weak rain, but it's a start!

FEB.17, 2008
Not much to report on the front lines... balmy above-freezing weather in mid-February isn't something to complain about though! It's been raining all day, but at least it's better than SNOW.