Windsor - Tecumseh, Ontario Tornado of 1946
Encyclopedia
The Windsor–Tecumseh Tornado of 1946 was the most powerful tornado
to hit Windsor, Ontario
, being an F4 in strength, touching down on June 17 of that year. The tornado touched down near River Rouge, Michigan
, but crossed the river and cut across southern Windsor, Ontario and northern Sandwich West Township, Ontario (Now the Municipality of LaSalle, Ontario
), along a path 35 miles (60 km) in length. It also cut across Highway 3
before weakening somewhat. The storm then touched down as an F4 again at the modern-day intersection of Walker Road
and Grand Marais Road, near the center of the city.
(which was located just south of the tornado), before tearing through the northwest part of the Town of Tecumseh, Ontario
and dissipating over Lake St. Clair.
The storm's path was roughly 30 m wide, and followed Turkey Creek for much of its length after crossing the Detroit River
, and travelled 60 km. The storm's damage ranged from F3-F4, to some speculated F5 damage from completely destroyed houses that were lifted off their foundations.
Since the tornado had destroyed The Windsor Star
's main printing offices, the Detroit News offered to help them print their newspapers at their printing facilities until the Stars were repaired, and even gave the Star priority so they could report the news of the tornado to the cities of Windsor, Detroit, and the rest of Ontario.
The tornado knocked out power to most of the city for about a day, and damaged or destroyed roughly 400 homes in Windsor.
broke out across the city, but civility and order
were quickly restored by the police
. Many accounts of the tornado were told over the radio
(notably, CKLW, which was Windsor's CBC radio affiliate at the time), and the Ontario Provincial Government
even explained the conditions that are favourable for tornado development
, to alleviate the public's fears of an "epidemic of tornadoes
", especially since one week later, a tornado struck the towns of Fort Frances
and International Falls
.
It was also just half a mile from the same spot the Windsor Tornado of 1974
touched down.
Tornado
A tornado is a violent, dangerous, rotating column of air that is in contact with both the surface of the earth and a cumulonimbus cloud or, in rare cases, the base of a cumulus cloud. They are often referred to as a twister or a cyclone, although the word cyclone is used in meteorology in a wider...
to hit Windsor, Ontario
Windsor, Ontario
Windsor is the southernmost city in Canada and is located in Southwestern Ontario at the western end of the heavily populated Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. It is within Essex County, Ontario, although administratively separated from the county government. Separated by the Detroit River, Windsor...
, being an F4 in strength, touching down on June 17 of that year. The tornado touched down near River Rouge, Michigan
River Rouge, Michigan
As of the census of 2000, there were 9,917 people, 3,640 households, and 2,504 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,713.9 per square mile . There were 4,080 housing units at an average density of 1,528.0 per square mile...
, but crossed the river and cut across southern Windsor, Ontario and northern Sandwich West Township, Ontario (Now the Municipality of LaSalle, Ontario
LaSalle, Ontario
LaSalle is a town in Essex County, Ontario, Canada, on the Detroit River. It is a bedroom community of the City of Windsor and part of the Windsor Census Metropolitan Area, and is located south of that city. LaSalle, along with Windsor, is the oldest French settlement area in Southwestern Ontario,...
), along a path 35 miles (60 km) in length. It also cut across Highway 3
Highway 3 (Ontario)
King's Highway 3, commonly referred to as Highway 3 and historically as the Talbot Trail, is a provincially maintained highway in the Canadian province of Ontario which travels parallel to the shore of Lake Erie. It has three segments, the first of which runs from the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor...
before weakening somewhat. The storm then touched down as an F4 again at the modern-day intersection of Walker Road
Walker Road
Walker Road was one of the busiest roads in Windsor, Ontario before the road closure. It has an average annual daily traffic level of 32,000 cars per day at the CP Rail crossing.- History :The road is named after Hiram Walker, distillery baron...
and Grand Marais Road, near the center of the city.
Path of destruction
The tornado took a northeastward path, cutting through farmland and forest, an area with few housing subdivisions (at the time, but still many homes), and narrowly missing Windsor AirportWindsor Airport
Windsor Airport, , is located in the southeast portion of the city of Windsor, Ontario, Canada. The airport serves a mixture of scheduled airline flights and general aviation, and is a popular point of entry into Canada for private and business aircraft...
(which was located just south of the tornado), before tearing through the northwest part of the Town of Tecumseh, Ontario
Tecumseh, Ontario
Tecumseh is a town on Lake St. Clair east of Windsor, Ontario, Canada. It has a population of just over 24,000.Tecumseh enjoys long summers and mild winters...
and dissipating over Lake St. Clair.
The storm's path was roughly 30 m wide, and followed Turkey Creek for much of its length after crossing the Detroit River
Detroit River
The Detroit River is a strait in the Great Lakes system. The name comes from the French Rivière du Détroit, which translates literally as "River of the Strait". The Detroit River has served an important role in the history of Detroit and is one of the busiest waterways in the world. The river...
, and travelled 60 km. The storm's damage ranged from F3-F4, to some speculated F5 damage from completely destroyed houses that were lifted off their foundations.
Since the tornado had destroyed The Windsor Star
Windsor Star
The Windsor Star is the regional newspaper of Windsor, Ontario , and is owned by the Postmedia Network Inc. Since 1923, the publication's main office is located at 167 Ferry Street in the downtown area...
's main printing offices, the Detroit News offered to help them print their newspapers at their printing facilities until the Stars were repaired, and even gave the Star priority so they could report the news of the tornado to the cities of Windsor, Detroit, and the rest of Ontario.
The tornado knocked out power to most of the city for about a day, and damaged or destroyed roughly 400 homes in Windsor.
Aftermath
After the tornado, lootingLooting
Looting —also referred to as sacking, plundering, despoiling, despoliation, and pillaging—is the indiscriminate taking of goods by force as part of a military or political victory, or during a catastrophe, such as during war, natural disaster, or rioting...
broke out across the city, but civility and order
Social order
Social order is a concept used in sociology, history and other social sciences. It refers to a set of linked social structures, social institutions and social practices which conserve, maintain and enforce "normal" ways of relating and behaving....
were quickly restored by the police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
. Many accounts of the tornado were told over the radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
(notably, CKLW, which was Windsor's CBC radio affiliate at the time), and the Ontario Provincial Government
Government of Ontario
The Government of Ontario refers to the provincial government of the province of Ontario, Canada. Its powers and structure are set out in the Constitution Act, 1867....
even explained the conditions that are favourable for tornado development
Tornadogenesis
Tornadogenesis is the process by which a tornado forms. There are many types of tornadoes, and each type of tornado can have several different methods of formation. Scientific study is ongoing, as some aspects of tornado formation remain a mystery....
, to alleviate the public's fears of an "epidemic of tornadoes
Tornado outbreak
While there is no single agreed upon definition, generally at least 6-10 tornadoes produced by the same synoptic scale weather system is considered a tornado outbreak. The tornadoes usually occur within the same day, or continue into the early morning hours of the succeeding day, and within the...
", especially since one week later, a tornado struck the towns of Fort Frances
Fort Frances, Ontario
Fort Frances is a town in, and the seat of, Rainy River District in Northwestern Ontario, Canada. The population as of the 2006 census was 8,103 and Fort Frances' population peaked in 1971 at 9,947...
and International Falls
International Falls, Minnesota
International Falls is a city in and the county seat of Koochiching County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 6,424 at the 2010 census....
.
It was also just half a mile from the same spot the Windsor Tornado of 1974
Super Outbreak
The Super Outbreak is the second largest tornado outbreak on record for a single 24-hour period, just behind the tornado outbreak of April 25–28, 2011...
touched down.
See also
- List of tornadoes and tornado outbreaks
- List of North American tornadoes and tornado outbreaks
- List of Canadian Tornadoes
- List of tornadoes striking downtown areas