The Northern Tornadoes Project (NTP) has confirmed three weak tornadoes touched down in southern Manitoba during severe storms on Aug. 5 and 6.
"All three tornadoes were weak by EF-scale standards, but still capable of causing minor damage," NTP noted in its event summaries.
The first occurred the evening of Aug. 5 near Grande-Clairière, southwest of Melita. NTP assigned it a "default" EF0 rating, the lowest on the Enhanced Fujita scale, as no damage was reported. A witness captured video of the twister, and satellite imagery analysis is still pending, according to NTP.
Two more tornadoes were confirmed on Aug. 6 northeast of Winnipeg.
One touched down near Birds Hill Provincial Park around 5:06 p.m., causing minor tree damage over a narrow path 4.1 kilometres long and up to 270 metres wide. NTP’s survey team estimated maximum wind speeds at 115 km/h and rated it EF0.
The third tornado formed near Dugald at approximately 5:30 p.m. It damaged crops and some trees along a 4.24-kilometre path up to 70 metres wide, also with estimated winds of 115 km/h. It, too, was rated EF0.
No injuries were reported from any of the tornadoes.
NTP says that the events were confirmed through a combination of radar data, witness reports, and ground and drone surveys conducted on Aug. 7. Satellite imagery review is ongoing.
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