Photo Courtesy: D 109420600 © Amidchaos9 | Dreamstime.com

By Veronica Beltran

Tornado in FSJ

Tornado confirmed in Fort St. John

Sep 3, 2020 | 11:58 AM

FORT ST. JOHN—Tornados are a rare occurence in B.C., this according to Environment Canada Meteorologist Doug Lundquist, and although rare, a local northern community was hit by one almost two weeks ago.

“It was on the 21st of August, in the evening,” said Lundquist in an over the phone interview. That was when Fort St. John was hit by a tornado.

“In 30 years I have seen a couple.”—Doug Lundquist, Meteorologist, Environment Canada

Lundquist says the tornado was classified as a weak tornado, however, it saw winds of 130 km/h when making its way through Fort St. John, on the 21st of August. The tornado is believed to have followed a very narrow path of 80 meters in width and three kilometres in length.

“It caused damages…I believe it ripped a house or a shed’s roof off and it was embedded in another roof, and there were other houses damaged and some trailers and cars,” added Lundquist.

Spruce Kings fall in Langley to Rivermen

27m ago

Sexual Assault and Harassment

Judge to rule on Canada Post employee's sexual assault and harassment case

16h ago

Weather Alerts

Freezing rain warning issued for Prince George-area, snowfall warning remains for Williston, Pine Pass

20h ago

“It’s really a severe thunderstorm that has special circulation to it.”—Doug Lundquist, Meteorologist, Environment Canada

“It’s pretty rare in the Peace, it tends to happen in the prairies where there is more of a clash between hot and cold air,” said Lundquist. Tornados are caused when a severe thunderstorm has a special form of circulation to it, allowing it to create it’s funnel shape.

Another possible tornado may have occurred earlier this year in Victoria, back in May, however, has not been confirmed by Environment Canada. Lundquist says that the tornado and possible tornado (Fort St. John and Victoria) are not related, and both happened due to different causes. Lundquist doesn’t want to blame climate change for the events, however, says it could be “a piece to the puzzle” in why B.C. may have seen two tornado’s this year but points out that weather can be very random.

He adds that statistically British Columbia sees less than one tornado per year, adding that after 30 years with Environment Canada he can only remember (including both the Fort St. John event and the unconfirmed Victoria event) four in his career.