Record Setting Derecho Wallops Southern Ontario - 05/21/2022

Weather summary

for Ontario and the National Capital Region

issued by Environment Canada

at 3:36 a.m. EDT Thursday 26 May 2022.

Discussion.

A derecho, which is a widespread long-lived windstorm associated 

with a line of thunderstorms, developed near Sarnia late Saturday 

morning May 21st, 2022 and tracked northeastward over Southern Ontario, crossing 

Ottawa Saturday afternoon. Damaging wind gusts were reported over a 

large swath of Southern Ontario as the severe thunderstorms raced 

through. 

After a preliminary analysis of the extensive damage in Uxbridge, 

Ontario, Western University's Northern Tornadoes Project Team has 

officially confirmed an EF2 tornado was embedded within the leading 

edge of the derecho. The tornado occurred at approximately 1:15 PM 

EDT on Saturday afternoon May 21st, 2022 in Uxbridge and was found to have a 

maximum wind speed of 195 kilometres per hour. 

The Northern Tornadoes Project Team has also confirmed that an 

intense EF2 downburst occurred in Southern Ottawa on Saturday with 

maximum wind speeds reaching 190 kilometres per hour. This downburst 

was responsible for substantial amounts of damage including downed 

hydro towers. 

There have been at least ten fatalities reported as a result of the 

strong winds with this line of thunderstorms. There was also 

extensive damage to trees, power lines and buildings. There were 

also overturned cars reported as well as widespread power outages. 

More than 1,000,000 customers were without power from this storm 

Saturday. Power outages continue in many areas today. 

The following is a summary of peak wind gusts observed with this 

line of thunderstorms in kilometres per hour: 

Kitchener - Waterloo Airport 132 

Ottawa International Airport 120 

Toronto Pearson International Airport 120 

Toronto Buttonville Airport 110 

Brantford Airport 104 

Uxbridge 100 

Elora 99 

Ottawa Central Experimental Farm 93 

Gatineau 90 

Oshawa Airport 89 

Toronto Island Airport 89 

Trenton 83 

Guelph 83 

Western University's Northern Tornadoes Project continues to 

investigate whether there were additional tornadoes or downbursts 

embedded in the Derecho. We'd like to thank them for their hard work 

in assessing the damage from this impactful storm. 

We at Environment and Climate Change Canada would also like to thank 

all those who have taken time to send reports when safe to do so. 

Reports such as pictures and videos can be sent to Environment and 

Climate Change Canada by emailing onstorm@ec.gc.ca or tweeting with 

the hashtag #ONStorm.

Please note that this summary may contain preliminary or unofficial 

information and does not constitute a complete or final report.

End/OSPC