Ottawa and its eastern communities were put on edge after a tornado warning was issued for the region, prompting residents to seek shelter and monitor conditions closely.
What's Happening
A tornado warning — one step above a tornado watch — means conditions aren't just favourable for a twister; a tornado has either been spotted or detected on radar. For anyone living east of Ottawa, that's a serious signal to act immediately and not wait to see what develops.
Environment and Climate Change Canada issues these warnings when trained weather spotters or Doppler radar confirm a tornado is occurring. Unlike a watch, a warning means you should stop what you're doing and get to safety now.
Where East of Ottawa Is Affected
The area east of Ottawa encompasses a wide swath of Eastern Ontario, including communities in Russell County, Prescott-Russell, and Stormont, Dundas, and Glengarry counties. These regions sit in a corridor that, while not as tornado-prone as the Canadian prairies, has seen significant tornado activity in recent years — including the devastating August 2022 tornadoes that tore through the region.
Residents in Embrun, Casselman, Rockland, Hawkesbury, and surrounding areas should be paying close attention to updates from local emergency management and Environment Canada.
What to Do Right Now
If you're in or near the warned area, take these steps immediately:
- Get inside a sturdy building — trailers, mobile homes, and vehicles offer little protection
- Go to the lowest floor and put as many walls between you and the outside as possible
- Stay away from windows — flying debris is the number one killer in tornado events
- Avoid underpasses and overpasses — these are not safe shelters
- If caught outside, find a low-lying ditch and lie flat, covering your head with your hands
Don't rely on the sound of a siren alone — not all communities have outdoor warning systems, and you may not hear one indoors. Keep a close eye on the Environment Canada weather alerts website, the WeatherCAN app, or local radio for the latest updates.
Ottawa's Tornado History
Eastern Ontario has a complicated relationship with severe weather. The September 2018 tornadoes that struck Dunrobin and Gatineau were a wake-up call for the Ottawa region, causing widespread destruction and power outages affecting hundreds of thousands of people. That event, rated EF3 in Dunrobin, remains one of the most powerful tornadoes ever recorded in the Ottawa area.
Since then, regional municipalities and emergency services have worked to improve warning systems and public education around tornado preparedness — but as any storm chaser will tell you, no amount of preparation can fully remove the danger of a powerful tornado.
Stay Informed
Check Environment Canada's severe weather alerts at weather.gc.ca, follow Ottawa Emergency Management on social media, and sign up for local emergency alerts through your municipality. If you see a tornado, call 911 to report it and then seek shelter immediately.
This is a developing weather situation. Stay indoors, stay low, and stay tuned.
Source: CTV News Ottawa via Google News RSS
