Tornado hit Quebec town forcing 40 people from their homes, Environment Canada confirms

The tornado with winds reaching up to 175 km/h struck in the town about 85 kilometres north of Montreal, a meteorologist said. It affected about 300 residences.




By SIDHARTHA BANERJEEThe Canadian Press
Wed., Aug. 23, 2017MONTREAL—Environment Canada says a tornado touched down in a Quebec town during intense thunderstorms that caused considerable damage in different parts of the province, including the felling of century-old trees in Montreal.

Meteorologist Amelie Bertrand said Wednesday a team dispatched to Lachute confirmed an EF-1 tornado with winds reaching about 175 km/h struck in the town about 85 kilometres north of Montreal.

Bertrand said an EF-1 tornado can cause wind gusts ranging from about 135 to 175 km/h, placing Tuesday’s tornado at the higher end of the scale. Observers saw roofs ripped from homes, siding torn from buildings and trees uprooted.

Lachute officials said the tornado struck at about 6:15 p.m., damaging about 150 residences, including around 10 that are now uninhabitable. There were no serious injuries.

The tornado was the sixth reported so far this year in Quebec.

“Usually Quebec has about six tornadoes per summer, so it would be right at the mean,” Bertrand said. “It doesn’t mean we won’t get other severe thunderstorms later in August or September, because the season extends from May to September.”


Residents survey the damage from a catagory one tornado on Wednesday, in Lachute, Que., northwest of Montreal.  (RYAN REMIORZ / THE CANADIAN PRESS)  
Bron: https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2017/08/23/tornado-hit-quebec-town-forcing-40-people-from-their-homes-environment-canada-confirms.html