When Was Windsor’s Last Tornado?

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A person with an umbrella walks to inspect a large branch that landed across California Avenue on Tuesday August 19th, 2014

Windsor was rocked by a tornado, Wednesday evening, but when did the City of Windsor last experience a tornado?

While the storm was highly localized, South Windsor was struck by a small tornado around 6:30pm on Tuesday August 19th, 2014.

Tornado damage on Norfolk Street in South Windsor is pictured on August 19th, 2014

An Environment Canada storm investigation team confirmed the tornado in South Windsor struck an area east of Huron Church Road near Grand Marais Road West.

Investigators said at the time the damage track of the tornado was about 150 metres wide, and the length of damage was around one and a half kilometers.

Tornado damage on Grand Marais Road West in South Windsor is pictured on August 19th, 2014

Officials rated that tornado an “EF0”, or the lowest out of six ratings on the Enhanced Fujita Scale, a rating system for tornado intensity that was adopted by the United States in 2007 and Environment Canada in 2013.

The tornado likely produced wind speeds of 90 to 130 km/h, and according to the criteria, peeled surfaces off some roofs, damaged gutters or siding, broke branches off trees, and pushed shallow-rooted trees over.

Tornado damage on Norfolk Street in South Windsor is pictured on August 19th, 2014

Prior to the August tornado in 2014, the next-most-recent tornado on record in the City of Windsor took place on April 25th, 2009.

“After receiving reports of funnel clouds and a possible tornado in the Windsor area Saturday evening, an Environment Canada damage survey team was sent out earlier today,” wrote Environment Canada in a statement. “After speaking with some eyewitnesses to the event and viewing the damage, Environment Canada is confirming Ontario’s first tornado of the 2009 season.”

“The tornado briefly occurred near the intersection of Hanna st east and langlois avenue in Windsor. It did minor roof damage to a union hall and Debris from the roof also did some damage to homes to the southeast of the union hall. The tornado was rated as a Fujita scale zero event with maximum winds around 90 kilometres per hour.”

Photo taken by reader Denny Timm of the April 25th, 2009 tornado at Hanna and Langlois

Before 2009, Windsor was notably struck twice before by serious tornadoes.

In 1974, a tornado tore through Windsor and ripped off the roof of the Windsor Curling Club, killing nine. And in 1946, a tornado flew through Windsor, killing 17 people and causing significant destruction.