Southwestern Ontario sees two EF0 tornadoes, local impacts across weekend storm

It was a weekend of wild weather across Waterloo Region and much of Southwestern Ontario as a whole, with two EF-0 tornadoes and a series of local weather-related impacts still being felt, carrying into the work week.

Saturday, August 8th saw some severe storms throughout the lower parts of the province, with strong winds, heavy downpours, and strong storms reported across Waterloo Region.

Photos posted to social media show flooded yards, uprooted trees, and even led to some deeper impacts for the Kitchener Blues Festival.

“Due to inclement weather, performances at all Kitchener Blues Festival stages have been temporarily paused as staff work to resume scheduled programming,” read a notice from the City of Kitchener, which at one point had to evacuate portions of the festival when a tornado warning was issued.

Festival operations were back up and running within a few hours, but the impacts continued to be felt throughout the region and other parts of the province.

The Western University-based Northern Tornadoes Project has confirmed that two tornadoes touched down throughout the course of the weekend weather, including an EF-0 twister in Woodstock and another EF-0 in Lindsay.

“There were many photos and videos, including one video showing the tornado doing minor damage,” said the Northern Tornadoes Project in a post to social media.

“Given the damage reported so far is minor, we are not planning to send a survey team. That could change if evidence of more significant damage emerges.”

Looking ahead, more active weather is still expected throughout the course of the work week, with rain in the forecast for Waterloo Region Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday, along with possible thunderstorms Monday.