Too early to say what tornado season holds in southwestern Ontario, expert says

Even with a tornado already onrecord in southwestern Ontario and a rough start to the season in neighbouring Michigan one expert says it's still a little too soon to say what's ahead for this summer.

A tornado causing significant damage swept over Portage, Mich., earlier this week, in one instance partially collapsing a FedEx building trapping about 50 people inside.

David Sills, executive director of the Northern Tornadoes Project at Western University, said it's still hard to say how this year's tornado season will shake out in southwestern Ontario.

"It has been a horrific tornado season so far in the U.S.," Sills said. "It started early and it's been pretty vicious."

See the aftermath of a tornado that tore through a Michigan community

4 months ago

Duration 0:34

Aerial footage from Michigan shows massive damage to both a mobile home community and a FedEx facility in Portage, Mich.

Sills said tornado-like environments have "come to the door" already this year but have been hindered by the cold Great Lakes, which prevent the storms from moving farther north.

But even with the United States off to a rocky start, Sills said that's not an indicator it will be a bad year in Canada or southwestern Ontario.

"We've had big years in the U.S. before that really haven't moved north, thankfully. So it's really difficult to tell. It all depends on the larger-scale weather patterns and how they set up."

Sills did point to a tornado that touched down in Amherstburg, Ont., in March, which the team uncovered and recorded in April. It was the first tornado of the season in Canada, and tied for the earliest on record in Ontario.

However, Sills pointed to the warm winter and spring the region had as an indicator that the summer could bring severe storms a little earlier than usual. He said the next month or two will really start the season "in earnest."

Last year represented a relatively quiet tornado season for the country, even though four (albeit weak) tornadoes touched down in Windsor and Essex County.

Windsor Morning8:10What can we expect from this years tornado season?

David Sills is the Executive Director of the Northern Tornadoes Project at Western University

But its very hard for researchers and forecasters to tell when a tornado is going to form it takes a variety of factors all being just right to create a tornado, which is why tornado warnings will often be issued even if a tornado doesn't form.

"We've had several thunderstorms with severe hail and a couple with downbursts causing damage in the last couple of months as well But yeah, we are in that season."

This weeks marks emergency preparedness week in Canada. This year's theme is"Be Prepared. Know Your Risks."

After the tornado in Amherstburg, Environment Canada said it could be a warmer than normal summer in Windsor and Essex county, even though it's too soon to say how much precipitation the region could get.

But Environment Canada says it's never too soon to start preparing for severe weather, including extreme heat.

Residents should have an emergency kit for themselves and families that will take care of their family for a minimum of 72 hours, as well as a plan to be prepared in the event of a power outage.