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Ontario Weather Review - July 2008

If you were to say anything else other than that rain was the highlight for July, you’d be all wet.

The extremes of rain were reported right across Ontario, with totals in some cases double the normal amounts. The rain broke monthly records at Toronto Pearson Airport, Red Lake and Sioux Lookout. With these new standards, the combined June-July totals were also surpassed at Pearson, Red Lake and Geraldton.

Only a few spots reported below-normal rainfall, with Thunder Bay and Elliot Lake each recording a little more than half of their typical values for July.

Temperatures were generally within a degree of normal. Hot, uncomfortable temperatures did occur, but were generally short-lived, with spells lasting three days or fewer.

As has been mentioned above, for many parts of Ontario the big weather story for July was significant rainfall. A stubborn, unsettled weather pattern that lingered over much of the province during the month generated numerous showers and thunderstorms, which provided a series of soaking rains for some. Yet, the localized, spotty nature of summer showers and thunderstorms was also underlined by the fact that some communities avoided the heaviest activity and ended up with below or near-normal rainfall values for the month.

In terms of other types of significant weather produced by thunderstorms, powerful downburst winds caused damage in the Madoc area to the north of Belleville during the early morning hours of July 18. While severe thunderstorms tend to occur during the late afternoon or early evening, the 3:30 a.m. storm in the Madoc area was a reminder that these storms can occur at any time. The damage was consistent with strong wind gusts or downbursts, except at one location where more chaotic damage was reported. There is a possibility that a tornado was responsible for this more chaotic damage and this event is still under investigation, pending a final determination.

July 22 and 23 were both active thunderstorm days, with a number of reports being received from across Southern Ontario of heavy rain and gusty winds. There was also confirmation of the seventh tornado of the season on July 22 in the Welland area, where a weak tornado that briefly occurred did minor damage. This tornado was rated as Fujita Scale Zero, with peak winds up to 115 kilometres per hour.

The eighth tornado of the season was confirmed in an area just north of Coboconk, in the Kawartha Lakes region, on the afternoon of July 26. There were numerous eyewitnesses to two or three funnel clouds in the area around 2:30 p.m. It was confirmed that one of the funnel clouds became a tornado that caused an intermittent damage path about two kilometres long and more than 300 metres wide at some points. The tornado caused significant local tree damage, with some trees subsequently falling on vehicles and cottages. This tornado was rated as Fujita Scale 1, with peak winds between 120 and 170 kilometres per hour.

Tornado No. 9 was confirmed near Hickson, to the north of Woodstock, on the evening of July 30. The tornado was rated as Fujita Scale Zero (peak winds to 100 kilometres per hour) and did some minor tree damage and some minor shingle damage to one home during its brief lifespan.

Ontario receives on average 11 tornadoes each year, with the season running from late April to early October.

Record precipitation (in millimetres):

Unusual precipitation readings (in millimetres):

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