Barrie Ontario Tornado Outbreak 1985
One of the Most Destructive Tornadoes in Ontario History
Oct 7, 2009
In Southern Ontario, on May 31st 1985, the day started out with mild spring temperatures. In the meantime, a storm front sweeping across the Midwestern States in the U.S. was heading for the Great Lakes.
Cause of the 1985 Tornado Swarm in Ontario
An area of warm air pushing ahead of the storm hit the humid air of the Great Lakes and brought on severe thunderstorm activity. Within the storm system, there was wind sheer.
Although an F0 tornado occurred further south in Leamington, Ontario during the passing of this storm front in the morning, the thunderstorm activity in the rest of the province did not spawn tornadoes.
By late morning, the thunderstorms stopped and the sun came out. The temperatures suddenly soared to the high 20s Celsius (high 80s Fahrenheit).
Behind the storm front, there was cool air mass and it began to reach the Great Lakes around noon. Thunderstorms formed over Lake Huron by early afternoon and headed towards eastward toward Ontario.
Three supercells were formed and spawned tornadoes in several areas before arriving in Barrie Ontario.
May 1985 Tornado Activity in Southern Ontario
The first supercell spawned a F2 tornado north of Wiarton and then it dissipated.
Two more supercells were detected. One was near Clinton and the other further north near Walkerton Ontario. The northern supercell spawned several tornadoes including aF3 tornado in Dufferin County and in Hopeville. There were other touchdowns in Angus, Alliston , Corbetton, Mansfield, and Terra Nova.
The southern cell spawned tornadoes in Arthur, Orangeville and Grand Valley. According to a report by the Ontario Government, “the Grand Valley Tornado killed 4 people, 2 in Grand Valley and 2 in Tottenham.”
Approximately two hours later, another tornado ripped through an area stretching from Lindsay to Madoc in Eastern Ontario. A supercell developed in Perth County and produced a F3 tornado hitting an area between Alma and Hillsburgh.
1985 Barrie Ontario Tornado
It was the northern supercell that struck Barrie, Ontario with a F4 force. The tornado formed in Simcoe County, approximately six miles southwest of the city limits of Barrie.
The tornado first toppled trees in a pine tree forest plantation and continued to head northeast toward Barrie. At 4:30pm the tornado struck the main transformer in the southwest side of the city and cut off all electrical power to Barrie.
In the southern section of Barrie, three people were killed in a housing subdivision. The tornado then struck an industrial area where one person was killed. As the twister crossed Highway 400, it picked up cars and tossed them in many directions.
The devastating effects of the tornado, according to the Canadian Broadcasting Company, were “eight people killed, 155 injured, 300 homes destroyed and $100 million in damage.” This is in addition to the four people killed in Grand Valley.
The cold front that crossed Lake Huron also spawned tornadoes south of Lake Erie and struck Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York
In total, the 1985 tornado outbreak produced 13 tornadoes in Ontario and 27 tornadoes in the U.S.
Articles Related to Tornadoes in Canada
Top Ten Deadliest Tornadoes in Canada’s History: Although the infamous Tornado Alley is located in the U.S., many twisters have touched down in Canada but not as often as their neighbors to the south.
1974 North American Tornado Swarm: Known as the Super Outbreak, 148 tornadoes touched down in an area stretching from Ontario Canada in the north to Alabama in the south over a 2 day period.
Worst Tornado in Canada’s History: Regina Saskatchewan Canada was hit by a deadly tornado that devastated the city's business district and wealthy residential area.
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