| Comments | Southern Ontario ON, August 19, 2005. A series of severe thunderstorms tracked eastward across southern Ontario from Kitchener to Oshawa. The system spawned two F2 tornadoes with gusts between 180 and 250 km/h. The first tracked through Milverton to Conestogo Lake and the second from Salem to Lake Bellwood. The tornadoes downed power lines, uprooted trees, ripped into several homes, cottages and barns, and overturned vehicles. Within one hour, torrential rains dumped 103 mm in North York, 100 mm in Downsview and 175 mm in Thornhill, leading to flash flooding. Fire fighters rescued four people who fell into the fast moving currents of the Don River. Thirty metres of Finch Avenue West was washed out. Early estimates report more than 15,000 insurance claims were submitted for structural and non-structural damages caused by torrential rains and high winds. Not included in insured losses were infrastructure damages. |