Windsor Ontario Canada Tornadoes

Posted by Maureen K. Fleury Feb 25, 2008

According to the weather records maintained by Environment Canada, Windsor Ontario is 3rd and 6th on their list of the worst tornadoes in Canada.

In case you are wondering, the worst tornado was the Regina Cyclone which occurred in 1912.

The tornado that placed Windsor 3rd on the list occurred on June 17th, 1946 with a rating of F4 on the Fujita Scale. There were 17 people killed and hundreds injured.

It was named the “Windsor to Tecumseh Tornado” because the tornado’s path continued to the town of Tecumseh located 5 miles east. Over 400 homes and 150 farms were damaged or destroyed. At the time, the estimated damage was $1.5 million. I wonder how much that would be in today’s economy?

The next tornado to hit Windsor, which is 6th on the list, occurred on April 3, 1974 with a rating of F3. There were 9 people dead and 30 injured.

This was part of the Super Tornado Outbreak which broke all records for the highest number of tornadoes occurring in the US in a 2 day period. The 9 people killed were in a bonspiel at the Windsor Curling Club when the roof blew off and the walls caved in. The estimated damage was $1.8 million.

The path of this tornado was only about 1 mile from the 1946 tornado.

I grew up in Windsor Ontario (moved away 3 months before the 1974 tornado) and the summers are very hot and humid.

I remember hearing thunder before the dark storm clouds were in view. As the clouds overtook the sky, this horrible shadow was cast over us. There would be an eerie calm before the storm as if a vacuum had been created. Then the forces of nature would lash out!