Ontario municipality
Tornadoes in Ottawa
Ottawa proved in 2018 that the capital region can take multiple strong tornadoes in a single evening. Here is Ottawa's tornado history and what residents should know.
The local risk
- The Ottawa Valley funnels and focuses severe storms moving out of Ontario.
- September 21, 2018: six tornadoes including two EF3s hit the region.
- Dunrobin, Arlington Woods, and Gatineau across the river all took direct hits.
- Storms crossing the Ottawa River retain intensity — the river is no barrier.
- Peak season: June-September, slightly later than southwestern Ontario.
Notable events affecting the area
- September 21, 2018 outbreak — six tornadoes, two EF3s (Dunrobin-Gatineau, Arlington Woods). Zero deaths thanks to Alert Ready warnings.
- 1994 Aylmer F3 — one death on the Quebec side.
- 1978 and 1999 area events — weaker but confirmed.
- Post-2018 events — the Northern Tornadoes Project has confirmed additional weak tornadoes in the valley most years.
How warnings reach you here
- Environment Canada issues tornado watches and warnings for this region.
- Alert Ready pushes warnings to every compatible cell phone — no signup needed.
- The Northern Tornadoes Project (Western University) surveys and confirms events after the fact.
- WeatherCAN app (Environment Canada) provides location-based alerts.
- Local radio and TV carry Environment Canada warnings.
Preparedness for this area
- Alert Ready saved lives here in 2018 — keep it enabled and take it seriously.
- Basement shelter within 60 seconds of an alert.
- The 2018 Merivale substation strike cut power to 250,000+ — keep a 72-hour kit.
- The tornado crossed provinces; warnings from either Ontario or Quebec apply to the whole capital region.
- September tornadoes are real here — don't drop your guard after summer.
The Canadian context
- Canada averages 60-100 confirmed tornadoes per year — second only to the US.
- True count is likely higher; the Northern Tornadoes Project keeps finding missed events in forests and sparsely-populated areas.
- Canada's only F5: Elie, Manitoba (2007).
- Deadliest: Regina 1912 (28 dead).
- Basements are near-universal in Canadian housing — a major survival advantage.