Tornadoes are still possible across Canada through September
Canada averages several twisters every year during the start of the fall season
Signs of change are all around us as we make our way through the month of September. Cooler temperatures and rogue bouts of snow are reminders that fall isn’t far off.
But even as we look ahead to the days of pumpkin spice and changing leaves, we can’t forget about summer’s hazards just yet.
Tornadoes are still possible across Canada during the late summer and early autumn months. Always pay attention to the forecast in your area, and be prepared to act if severe weather threatens your location.
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Canada averages around 65 tornadoes every year. The vast majority of those twisters touch down during the summer months. But the country typically notches a few tornadoes in the autumn, as well.
Just over five per cent of Canada’s average annual tornadoes touch down during the month of September. Since 2017, we’ve seen 74 tornadoes recorded in September, with the lion’s share unfolding across Ontario and Quebec.
We can’t let our guards down even later in the season, either. While the Prairies typically see tornado activity subside in August, the past eight years have averaged Ontario’s final tornado of the year in the middle of October.
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A few recent tornadoes occurred fairly late in the season. Vancouver, B.C., saw a tornado in early November 2021. Ontario saw a confirmed tornado touch down in the community of Sharon on Nov. 21, 2021.
These late-season tornadoes form through similar dynamics to the ones we see in spring and summer. Even as cooler temperatures begin to take hold, seasonal changes whip up robust storm systems that can drag warm, unstable air north of the border. Thunderstorms can tap into that instability and wind shear to spawn twisters.
Snowbirds and vacationers heading south of the border are at greater risk of tornadoes during the fall and winter months. Powerful fall and winter storms often create favourable conditions for tornadoes across the southern United States, especially along and near the Gulf Coast.
Header image created using graphics and imagery from Canva.