Five tornadoes strike Canadian Province
Pastor Dale Morgan
Five Tornadoes strike Canadian Province*
Updated Sat. Jun. 28 2008 10:05 AM ET
CTV
CANADA - Five tornadoes touched down in Manitoba Friday, dumping heavy
rain and causing havoc in the southern part of the province.
Residents spotted the first of the twisters in the afternoon. By evening
much of the region was under tornado watches, but most of the twisters
swept through open fields, away from residential areas.
The twisters didn't cause any major damage or injuries but many Winnipeg
residents had a tough time driving in the aftermath of the storms.
The city was hit by a major downpour -- as much as 45 millimetres of
rain in the span of two hours on Friday evening. The knee-deep water
flooded streets and some underpasses, and it also knocked out traffic
lights in some areas.
Meanwhile, in the U.S. Midwest, deadly tornadoes claimed two lives.
Police said that two 18-year-old men died when a tree fell on their
vehicle in Iowa. Police had to use a backhoe to help free a 15-year-old
girl who was trapped in the car's back seat.
The storms also dumped rain in Iowa, a state already facing major
flooding. Power outages, lightening strikes, and water-blocked roads
were reported in states throughout the Midwest.
Twisters have been touching down at a record pace in the United States.
Meteorologists have recorded at least 1,300 tornadoes this year with the
peak season for twisters still to come.
Part of the problem may have to do with what's happening in Canada.
Experts say unusual cold fronts from north of the U.S. border are
flowing southwards. There they disrupt masses of moist, warm air -- and
that sends clouds swirling and tornadoes on their furious paths.
According to Environment Canada's website:
* On average, about 80 twisters hit Canada each year
* Twisters cause on average two deaths and 20 injuries in any given year
* Canada's "tornado alleys" are: southern Ontario, Alberta,
southeastern Quebec, and a stretch from southern Saskatchewan and
Manitoba through to Thunder Bay