Tornado

Tornadoes are powerful whirlwinds of rotating winds. They can travel at speeds of up to 70 km/h and change their trajectory unpredictably, making them particularly dangerous and devastating. Tornadoes usually form during stormy weather and occur most frequently between May and August.

Pay close attention to the weather conditions in your area. If stormy weather is imminent, check whether tornado warnings and watches have been issued by Environment and Climate Change Canada and Québec Alert Ready.

Postpone outdoor activities and avoid non-essential travel in the event of a tornado warning.

Identify a safe place in your home or building to take refuge should a tornado strike, in the basement if possible, otherwise in a windowless room or space on the ground floor, such as a bathroom, hallway, or closet.

Take the necessary steps to ensure the well-being of your pets in the event of an evacuation (in French only).

Know how to communicate during an emergency situation. Whether it be to issue a danger warning, reassure loved ones or post information on social media, every action taken during an emergency is significant.

Be prepared to react quickly by having an up-to-date family emergency plan and a home emergency kit.

There are a number of signs that may indicate the onset of a tornado, including:

• Very dark skies tinged with green or yellow
• Frequent lightning and thunder
• Torrential rain
• Volleys of hail
• A rumbling or hissing sound
• A funnel-shaped cloud at the base of a storm cloud

In the event of a tornado warning, immediately seek shelter in a solid building. 

Keep pets indoors. Don’t put your safety at risk if a tornado is imminent and you can’t find your pet.

Stay away from doors and windows.

Gather your family in a safe place, such as a basement or small interior room or space on the ground floor (bathroom, closet, hallway, or under a heavy piece of furniture).

Avoid taking the elevator if you live in an apartment building or if, for example, you’re in an office tower or a hotel.

Leave your mobile home, as it could be swept away by the tornado. Take refuge in a solid building nearby.

Take shelter in a building with a roof that’s solid enough to withstand the force of the wind.

If you’re in an open area and there’s no shelter nearby, take refuge in a ditch or a fold in the landscape. Lie face down on the ground and protect your head with your hands.

Stay away from trees, power poles, and other objects that could fall.

Protect yourself from objects that could be hurled by the tornado.

Don’t try to get ahead of a tornado, but immediately head to a solid building and take shelter.

If there’s no safe building nearby, park the vehicle on the side of the road, engage the handbrake, and turn on the hazard lights.

Avoid sheltering under a bridge, viaduct, or overpass, where the winds are more intense.

If you can get out of your vehicle safely, seek shelter in a low-lying area, such as a ditch, away from trees, poles, power lines, and your vehicle.

Follow the instructions issued by local authorities and get information from official sources (e.g., your municipality, the Gouvernement du Québec).

If you’re safe, help those around you who may need immediate assistance.

Make sure that your home is safe before you enter. If in doubt, consult a building professional.

If relevant, check the extent of any damages  (e.g., roof, building structure, electrical ground wires, debris due to the tornado).

Clean up all of the debris, being particularly careful when near sharp objects such as sheet metal or glass.

Never approach a downed power line. Call  911 immediately. When a power line or electrical wire touches the ground, it is very probably “live”, as is the surrounding ground.

Prepare an inventory of all damages, including photos or videos. Your municipality, insurance company or the financial institution where you have your mortgage could ask you for this list. Keep all receipts and proofs of purchase, which will be helpful when you make claims with regard to damaged property.

Inform yourself of the actions necessary to carry out the clean-up of your house and yard.

Should major works be necessary before you can return home, secure the premises to keep curious or ill-intentioned persons at bay. This can be done by:

• locking the doors
• barricading the windows
• covering up all damaged sections

Experiencing a disaster can cause unusual physical, emotional, and behavioural reactions. Pay attention to your reactions and those of your loved ones:

• anxiety, distress, or frequent crying
• a lack of interest or energy
• aggressiveness
• difficulty in concentrating or confusion
• increased alcohol or drug consumption

Psychosocial support is available to you. This service is free of charge and confidential.

Help your children feel safe by taking simple, comforting actions.

To obtain additional information on post-disaster reactions and the assistance available, please consult the Getting better following a disaster page.

Tornadoes can cause considerable damage, including uprooted trees, damaged buildings and infrastructure, debris hurled at high speed, and power and telecommunications outages. In addition to property damage, they also pose a risk to personal safety, possibly leading to serious injuries or even death.

Wind strength is measured using the Enhanced Fujita Scale. It classifies tornadoes from EF0 to EF5 and identifies indicators and levels of wind damage.