Saskatchewan has experienced a total of 17 tornadoes this year, with 10 of them occurring in a single day, according to a tornado tracking project based at Western University. The tornadoes have primarily hit the southern and central regions of the province, with a concentration between Estevan and Saskatoon, as reported by the Northern Tornadoes Project, a research initiative based in London, Ontario that monitors tornado activity nationwide.
David Sills, the director of the Northern Tornadoes Project, stated that 12 tornadoes touched down over a three-day period from June 19 to June 21. Of these, 10 tornadoes were confirmed on June 19, with the remaining two occurring on June 21. Prior to this, two tornadoes had touched down near Cut Knife on June 2, followed by another tornado near Stockholm on June 29.
Among the June 19 tornadoes, two were classified as EF-2 on the enhanced Fujita scale, while three others were rated EF-1, representing strong tornadoes capable of causing significant damage, such as ripping off rooftops and homes.
On average, Saskatchewan has seen approximately 14 tornadoes annually from 2017 to 2024, with variations in the numbers reported each year. Notably, there were 26 tornadoes in 2022, only one in 2023, and 19 in the previous year.
This year, Saskatchewan has recorded more tornadoes than the rest of the country combined, with four tornadoes each in Alberta and Quebec, two each in Manitoba and Ontario, and one in British Columbia, according to data from the tracking project.
Despite the increased tornado activity, there have been no reported fatalities associated with confirmed tornadoes in Canada this year. Sills highlighted that while multiple tornadoes in a day are not uncommon, the outbreak in Saskatchewan on June 19 was the most significant he had observed since the inception of the Northern Tornadoes Project in 2017.
The tornadoes on June 19 affected various locations in the province, including an EF-1 in the Blackstrap Lake area and an EF-0 in Young, both south of Saskatoon. Additionally, tornadoes hit Frobisher and Kronau, with two in each location, one in South Touchwood, Hubbard, Vibank, and Hirsch.
Sills emphasized that proper precautions, such as special bracing on homes, can mitigate the impact of tornadoes, as demonstrated in one incident where a house with such measures avoided significant damage. While the meteorological reasons behind Saskatchewan’s increased tornado activity remain unclear, Sills suggested that extreme heat periods play a role, influenced by the timing of frontal systems and peak heating occurrences.
Hubbard twister tore trees out
Residents near Hubbard, Saskatchewan, witnessed a tornado touching down near their rural home on June 19. Despite minor damage to their property, including shingle loss, the tornado uprooted trees and caused damage to farm equipment.
June and July typically mark the peak tornado season, with a gradual decline expected as August approaches. Sills anticipates a reduction in tornado activity as the summer progresses, leading to a decrease in tornado occurrences on the prairies.
