Canadians advised to prepare against tornadoes

Meteorologists acknowledge long odds of northern twister

TORONTO (CP) — Canadians face a significantly lower risk than their American neighbours of finding themselves in the path of a tornado, but should still be prepared to face the worst if mother nature decides to defy the odds, experts said Tuesday.

The perils of tornado season were tragically demonstrated Monday when a massive twister flattened homes and demolished an elementary school in Moore, Okla. At least 24 people, including nine children, were killed during the mammoth storm which sprang up with less than 20 minutes notice.

Canadians are far less likely to face such a storm, meteorologists said, noting the country’s geographic location offers some natural protection.

Geoff Coulson, warning preparedness meteorologist with Environment Canada, said the country sees an average of 62 tornadoes each year compared to the 1,200 that touch down in the U.S. He said the frequent combination of warm air from the Gulf of Mexico and cooler currents from the north leave Canada’s southern neighbour particularly vulnerable to severe weather.

Despite the decreased risk, however, Coulson said Canada still employs many of the same precautions Americans use to stay out of harm’s way.

“I think there’s a lot of similarities in the way people are getting information,” Coulson said in a telephone interview.

He said 90 per cent of Canada is covered by weather radio systems that communicate with Environment Canada, monitor weather systems and emit warning tones when a major storm is approaching.

Such weather radios are the primary warning systems in place in the U.S., he added. In both countries, warnings are issued between 10 and 20 minutes before a tornado is expected to touch down.

American communities at high risk for twisters may also have an emergency siren system installed. Coulson said a handful of Canadian jurisdictions have implemented this system.

Canadians who want to be kept apprised of serious weather developments should check in with local radio stations or the Environment Canada website at weather.ec.gc.ca.

One place they can’t yet turn for information, however, is their mobile phone, Coulson said.

American officials have started exploring the idea of looping cellular transmission towers into their warning systems, but no concrete action has been taken yet, he said.

Canadian meteorologists are even further from realizing that goal, he said, adding that officials are trying to strike a balance between issuing timely warnings and lulling the public into a false sense of security.

“We’re watching quite closely the developments in the U.S. with respect to linking in through cellphone towers ... but there still seems to be a number of hurdles that have to be crossed before we get to that point.”

Canada is no stranger to deadly tornadoes.

One salt mine worker was killed in August 2011 when a massive tornado ripped through the southern Ontario town of Goderich, causing about $12 million worth of damage.

A storm that tore through