Location
Niagara, Ontario, Canada
Start Date
11-6-1970 2:10 PM
Document Type
Report (PDF/Word)
F-Scale Rating
F0
Classification
Confirmed
Description
On the afternoon of the 11th, an isolated supercell developed over Lake Ontario and tracked SSE toward the eastern end of the Niagara Peninsula. After it had made landfall, a funnel cloud dropped from the western side of the storm and touched down just to the NW of the intersection the QEW and Seventh Street Louth. It was at this point that about 20-30 drivers were stopped on the QEW as visibility was reduced to nil in the area. One couple who were stopped noticed the tornado just off the highway as a long black funnel whirling debris in the air. They decided to flee once they had seen it coming toward them. The tornado then crossed the QEW and hit a large greenhouse operation near Second Ave and Third St Louth causing many windows to explode and damaging ventilation equipment. As it continued its track south-southeastward it mainly damaged trees, uprooting many before petering out near Fifth Ave and First Street Louth.
Note: During the early parts of the storm, as it made landfall, heavy rains were occurring along the QEW in Beamsville. It was at this time at which a 57 year old woman crossed the median of the highway at the Lincoln Ave traffic lights and collided head on with another vehicle, killing her. This was only casualty related to the storm. Extremely heavy rains (2.35in recorded) in St. Catharines caused an estimated $100,000 - $500,000 in flood damage to buildings in the area. Wide power outages in the city due to high winds were also felt and attributed to the flooding of basements.
St. Catharines
Niagara, Ontario, Canada
On the afternoon of the 11th, an isolated supercell developed over Lake Ontario and tracked SSE toward the eastern end of the Niagara Peninsula. After it had made landfall, a funnel cloud dropped from the western side of the storm and touched down just to the NW of the intersection the QEW and Seventh Street Louth. It was at this point that about 20-30 drivers were stopped on the QEW as visibility was reduced to nil in the area. One couple who were stopped noticed the tornado just off the highway as a long black funnel whirling debris in the air. They decided to flee once they had seen it coming toward them. The tornado then crossed the QEW and hit a large greenhouse operation near Second Ave and Third St Louth causing many windows to explode and damaging ventilation equipment. As it continued its track south-southeastward it mainly damaged trees, uprooting many before petering out near Fifth Ave and First Street Louth.
Note: During the early parts of the storm, as it made landfall, heavy rains were occurring along the QEW in Beamsville. It was at this time at which a 57 year old woman crossed the median of the highway at the Lincoln Ave traffic lights and collided head on with another vehicle, killing her. This was only casualty related to the storm. Extremely heavy rains (2.35in recorded) in St. Catharines caused an estimated $100,000 - $500,000 in flood damage to buildings in the area. Wide power outages in the city due to high winds were also felt and attributed to the flooding of basements.