PHOTOS: Ontario sees relatively rare November tornado in Fergus area
A weak tornado, given a preliminary EF-0 rating, has been confirmed to have hit the Fergus, Ont., area late Sunday night. Damaging winds and power outages were also reported
Severe thunderstorms ended the weekend in southern Ontario, with a relatively rare November tornado confirmed to have occurred after warnings were issued.
On Monday afternoon, the Western University-based Northern Tornadoes Project's storm survey team found a long, narrow path of damage through the Fergus, Ont., area, confirming a twister occurred Sunday evening. A preliminary EF-0 rating has been assigned.
A Texas low that brought blizzard conditions to New Mexico, and heavy snow to Colorado tracked into the Great Lakes on Sunday, bringing quite the opposite kind of weather. Widespread rain fell throughout the morning hours, but as the cold front tracked across southern Ontario Sunday evening, a squall line moved through, as well.
At 10:56 p.m., Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) issued a tornado warning for the Caledon area, urging residents to take cover immediately if threatening weather approached.
"Tornadoes could be wrapped in rain and may not be visible," said ECCC in the warning. "Do not wait to see a funnel cloud."
Damaging winds, large hail, and locally intense rainfall were also risks with the late night storms, with severe thunderstorm watches and warnings spanning much the region, including the city of Toronto.
A peak wind gust of 103 km/h was recorded in Hamilton, making it the fourth strongest November wind gust in history.
Thunderstorms always present a danger, no matter what time of the day, but when they occur at night the risks can be much greater. Conditions can change and become dangerous very quickly, heightening the threat of these nighttime storms while people are unaware or even asleep.
RELATED: Why nocturnal thunderstorms can be particularly dangerous
WATCH: Severe storms cause damage and knock out power in southern Ontario
Only five November tornadoes in Ontario history
With Monday's confirmation, only five twisters have ever occurred in Ontario during the month:
Hamilton - Nov. 9, 2005
Charleville (Prescott) - Nov. 23, 2013
Georgetown - Nov. 15, 2020
Sharon - Nov. 21, 2021
Fergus - Nov. 10, 2024
The latest on record for the province dates back to Dec. 12, 1946, in Exeter, Ont.
DON'T MISS: Rare November twisters touch down in New Brunswick to kick off the month
Severe thunderstorms this late in the season will also typically catch more people off guard.
"There's the potential for people not to pay attention to severe thunderstorm watches and warnings, and get caught unprepared when a tornado does happen," says Mark Robinson, meteorologist and Storm Hunter at The Weather Network. "This could lead to people not taking shelter in time and getting caught out in the open."
Earlier this month, three rare November twisters touched down in New Brunswick, making them the latest in the season for the province on record. Meanwhile, an extremely unusual late-season tornado also hit north of Vancouver, British Columbia.
With this extension of the summer severe weather season happening more often, it's important to always stay alert and updated on the watches and warnings in your area.
Here's a look at some of Sunday night's storm impacts shared by X users online:
WATCH: Why you can't rule out tornadoes during fall's cooler months
Thumbnail courtesy of Kirk MacDonald/X/@KirkMacDonald5, taken in Fergus, Ont.
