UPDATE: Environment and Climate Change Canada confirms tornado in Tweed area
UPDATE (Friday, Jul. 29, 2022):
Environment Canada has updated their findings after severe storms swept through southern and eastern Ontario on the evening of Sunday, Jul. 24, 2022.
Nearly 40,000 customers were affected by power outages from these thunderstorms, the national weather agency stated.
“After a thorough investigation from the Northern Tornadoes Project, the supercell tornado captured on video and through photos from witnesses in communities from Rockdale to Actinolite has been upgraded to EF2 with maximum estimated winds of 190 km/h,” Environment Canada said in a statement released on Friday, Jul. 29, 2022. “The tornado tracked east-northeast with a track length of 55.8 km and a maximum width of 1420 m.”
The investigation continues, and Environment Canada would like to “thank everyone for sending in their reports and to the Northern Tornadoes Project for their extensive efforts. Our thoughts continue to be with those affected.”
Original article:
Many eastern Ontario residents kept a close eye on the developing weather throughout the evening of Sunday, Jul. 24, 2022 — and rightly so. Severe thunderstorms rolled across the region causing damage, mainly in areas north-west of Kingston, including a confirmed tornado in the Marmora-Madoc-Actinolite area.
According to a weather summary from Environment Canada, staff from the Northern Tornadoes Project and Environment and Climate Change Canada investigated the damage in the Marmora-Madoc-Actinolite area on Monday, and noted a “long track of damage due to at least one tornado and downburst winds.”
“Damage has been preliminarily rated as high EF-1, with peak wind speeds of near 175 km/h,” the national weather agency stated. “The final track length and strength of the winds associated are not yet determined.”
Environment Canada reported the following damage:
- a flipped trailer in Rockdale with multiple injuries reported
- extensive tree damage including areas of very large mature trees
- homes damaged with the roof partially removed
- barns completely destroyed
- hydro lines and poles down, including on roads
- roads, including Highway 7, blocked by fallen trees and power lines.
The municipality of Tweed declared a state of emergency on Monday, Jul. 25, 2022. A reception centre was opened at the Tweed Public Library at 230 Metcalf Street in Tweed for affected residents, according to the municipality, who were expecting to have all roads cleared for emergency and local access by end of day Monday. Visit the Tweed website for updates.