Severe London storm produced 2 tornadoes and a downburst: Experts
Posted May 25, 2026 10:58:51 AM.
Last Updated May 25, 2026 11:03:31 AM.
After reviewing photos, the pathways and satellite imagery from May 19, the Northern Tornadoes Project determined that there were two tornadoes and a downburst that touched down in and near London, Ont.
In an earlier statement, the research initiative at the University of Western Ontario said it believed at least one tornado was produced during the severe storm that sent emergency alerts to phones as far as Waterloo Region.
The downburst caused up to EF1 damage rating on the Enhanced Fujita scale for measuring tornado intensity, and went from east London to Dorchester, Ont. Another tornado caused EF1 damage from Lambeth across south London to the Mossley area.
A second “brief” tornado caused EF0 (the lowest rating on the scale) in the Melbourne area, southwest of the city.
Witnesses sent in videos and images to the organization, which showed downed power poles, trees and damage to houses and several farm buildings. No injuries were reported in the incidents.
When did the twisters touch down?
As the storm tracked east towards Waterloo Region, the first tornado touched down around 5:30 p.m. near Melbourne. Photos from the event show damage to trees and a farm building. The smallest of the twisters grew to a wind speed of 115 km/h and a path length of 7.87 kilometres.
As storm cells continued moving, around 5:45 p.m., a more severe tornado was produced.
In the Mossley area, a toppled transport truck was reported, along with more severe damage to homes and trees. The EF1 tornado grew to a wind speed of 145 km/h and had a track length of 26.2 kilometres.
The third incident, around 5:55 p.m., a downburst, created intense damage to an eastern area of the city. Experts classify a downburst based on its wind direction.
“While the rotating winds of a tornado converge at the surface then rise up into the storm, often resulting in narrow paths of chaotic damage, downburst winds descend and diverge beneath the storm and result in outward burst patterns of damage or wide areas with damage mostly from the same direction,” the Northern Tornadoes Project said on its website.
In the downburst, people reported downed power lines, roof shingles being torn off and an apartment building damaged after the storm passed.
It grew to a maximum wind speed of 145 km/h with damage found along a 9.9-kilometre path.
