Researchers confirm 1st tornado of 2025 in Ontario has touched down [Video]

Tornado season is officially underway in Ontario as the first one touched down near Woodstock, Ont., a week ago, according to weather researchers.

The Northern Tornadoes Project (NTP) at Western University said Thursday that an EFO tornado — the lowest level on the tornado severity index — touched down in Lakeside, Ont., at around 3 a.m. on May 16.

In a blog post on NTP’s website, the group says that “only trees and a power pole were damaged along the tornado’s narrow path” and that no injuries were reported.

The NTP estimated that wind speeds reached up to 115 km/h while it touched down for 3.6 kilometres with a width of 160 metres.

NTP director David Sills told Global News that May is generally the time when tornados first begin to arrive in Ontario.

“May is the beginning of the tornado season in Ontario on average,” he explained. “Though last year …