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MAKE A PLAN - KNOW
THE RISK - BE PREPARED!
Tornadoes - Know The Risks
Information Supplied By Government of Canada
Tornadoes are relatively common in Canada, but
only in specific regions: southern Alberta; Manitoba and Saskatchewan; southern
Ontario; southern Quebec; the interior of British Columbia; and western New
Brunswick. Tornado season extends from April to September with peak months in
June and July, but they can occur at any time of year.
Tornado facts
- Canada gets more tornadoes than any other
country with the exception of the United States.
- Tornadoes are rotating columns of high
winds.
- Sometimes they move quickly (up to
70 km/hour) and leave a long, wide path of destruction. At other times the
tornado is small, touching down here and there.
- Large or small, they can uproot trees,
flip cars and demolish houses.
- Tornadoes usually hit in the afternoon
and early evening, but they have been known to strike at night too.
Warning signs of a potential tornado
Warning signs include:
- Severe thunderstorms, with frequent
thunder and lightning
- An extremely dark sky, sometimes
highlighted by green or yellow clouds
- A rumbling sound or a whistling sound.
- A funnel cloud at the rear base of a
thundercloud, often behind a curtain of heavy rain or hail.
Canada's tornado warning system
Environment Canada is responsible for warning
the public when conditions exist that may produce tornadoes. It does this
through radio, television, newspapers, its internet site, as well as through its
weather phone lines.
- If you live in one of Canada's high-risk
areas, you should listen to your radio during severe thunderstorms.
- If you hear that a tornado warning has
been issued for your area, find shelter and follow the instructions below.
If severe weather threatens, public safety experts agree that seconds count
to save lives. With a tone alert-capable
Weatheradio,
the device will automatically activate a visual or audio alarm for toned
weather warnings, reducing the risk of the warning being missed
What to do during a tornado
If you are in a house
- Go to the basement or take shelter in a
small interior ground floor room such as a bathroom, closet or hallway.
- If you have no basement, protect yourself
by taking shelter under a heavy table or desk.
- In all cases, stay away from windows,
outside walls and doors.
If you live on a farm
- Livestock hear and sense impending
tornadoes. If your family or home is at risk, the livestock will be a
non-issue. If your personal safety is not an issue, you may only have time
to open routes of escape for your livestock. Open the gate, if you must, and
then exit the area in a tangent direction away from the expected path of the
twister.
If you are in an office or apartment building
- Take shelter in an inner hallway or room,
ideally in the basement or on the ground floor.
- Do not use the elevator.
- Stay away from windows.
If you are in a gymnasium, church or
auditorium
- Large buildings with wide-span roofs may
collapse if a tornado hits.
- If possible, find shelter in another
building.
- If you are in one of these buildings and
cannot leave, take cover under a sturdy structure such as a table or desk.
Avoid cars and mobile homes
- More than half of all deaths from
tornadoes happen in mobile homes.
- Find shelter elsewhere, preferably in a
building with a strong foundation.
- If no shelter is available, lie down in a
ditch away from the car or mobile home. Beware of flooding from downpours
and be prepared to move.
If you are driving
- If you spot a tornado in the distance go
to the nearest solid shelter.
- If the tornado is close, get out of your
car and take cover in a low-lying area, such as a ditch.
In all cases
- Get as close to the ground as possible,
protect your head and watch for flying debris.
- Do not chase tornadoes – they are
unpredictable and can change course abruptly.
- A tornado is deceptive. It may appear to
be standing still but is, in fact, moving toward you.
Know The Risks
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