Environment Canada gives Manitoba tornado 2nd-highest severity classification

A tornado that wreaked havocin Alonsa, Man., and surrounding communities, leading to one fatality, has now received a more serious classification fromEnvironment Canada.

The preliminary rating of EF-3 has been upgraded to an EF-4 for the tornado that went through the Alonsa, Silver Ridge and Margaret Bruce Beach areas on Friday evening.

EF-0tornadoes are the least severe, while the most severe are classified as EF-5.

Tornado strengths:

• EF-0:90-130 km/h.Damage to trees, shingles, antennas and windows.
• EF-1:135-175km/h.Trees uprooted, cars overturned.
• EF-2:180-220km/h.Roofs blown off homes, sheds destroyed, mobile homes flipped.
• EF-3:225-265km/h.Walls, roofs destroyed,metal buildings collapsed, forests destroyed.
• EF-4:270-310km/h.Well-built homes mostly destroyed, heavy objects thrown long distances.
• EF-5:315 km/h or more.Homes destroyed and/or blown great distances, roofs blown off larger structures, which are otherwise heavily damaged.

The tornado's path was as wide as800 metres, and lasted for at least 20 minutes, the weather agency said Sunday.

Family members have confirmed to CBC News the man who died isJack Furrie, 77.

On Sunday, aspokespersonfor Environment Canada said an elderly couple was admitted to hospital after a wall in their home just east of Alonsa fell on them. No other casualties have been reported.

A three-person team from Environment Canada was dispatched to the area, about 165 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg, on Saturday to survey the storm damageand determine the twister's exact path, size and wind speed.

Based on asurvey ofthe damage, Environment Canadasaid:

A small farmhouse was destroyedwhere the77-year-old man lived.

One home was partially destroyed, injuring an elderly couple.

Two cabins were destroyed: one on the shore of Lake Manitoba andthe other just to the west.

Many, many trailers, tractors and vehicles were destroyed.

Two horses that belonged to the man who died ran away, but returned.

A group of cattle werestill missing; they ran away after a fence was demolished.

Manitoba tornado prompts calls for change to emergency alert system

6 years ago

Duration 3:07

A tornado that touched down in Manitoba is prompting calls for change to the emergency alert system.