Elie tornado
The 2007 Elie tornado was a small but extremely powerful and erratic tornado that occurred in Manitoba, Canada, during the evening hours of Friday, June 22, 2007. The powerful F5 tornado that struck the town of Elie (40 km (25 mi) west of Winnipeg) was known for its unusual path, behaviour, its rope to cone structure (as opposed to a "wedge" structure), and how unique it was compared to other F5/EF5 tornadoes. It was part of a small two-day tornado outbreak that occurred in the area and reached a maximum width of 150 yards (140 m). The tornado was unusual because it caused extreme damage during its roping out stage at a mere 35 yards (32 m) in width while moving extremely slowly and unpredictably. The tornado tracked primarily southeast, as opposed to the usual northeast, and it made multiple loops and sharp turns.
What was the Elie tornado?
The Elie tornado was a powerful F5 twister that struck Elie, Manitoba, on the evening of June 22, 2007. It gained notoriety for its erratic movement, unusual roping structure, and intense damage despite its slow speed. This event ranks as the only F5 tornado ever recorded in Canadian history. The storm caused significant destruction to the town before dissipating after a 35-minute lifespan. No fatalities or injuries occurred due to resident precautions.
What was the Elie tornado wind speed?
The Elie tornado achieved F5 status, which corresponds to winds exceeding 261 mph (420 km/h). Investigators assigned this rating based on the total destruction of well-built homes that were bolted to their foundations. Video analysis confirmed the extreme intensity of the vortex as it swept structures completely off their footings. Although observers initially suggested lower ratings, the final assessment concluded that the damage levels met the rigorous requirements for an F5 classification.
What was the Elie tornado path?
The tornado touched down north of the Trans-Canada Highway at 6:25 p.m. CDT. It tracked primarily southeast, performing multiple loops and sharp turns through the town of Elie. The path spanned approximately 3.7 miles (6 km) over its 35-minute duration. It eventually moved southwest away from the town center before rapidly dissipating. The storm remained remarkably narrow throughout much of its existence, reaching a maximum width of only 150 yards.
How many people died in the Elie tornado?
Zero people died during the Elie tornado. No injuries resulted from the event either. Residents successfully took necessary precautions as the storm approached. This lack of casualties remained a notable outcome given the high F5 intensity and the total destruction of several residential homes. Official reports highlight that preparation saved lives during this severe weather outbreak.
What did the Elie tornado destroy?
The tornado leveled multiple residential houses, sweeping them completely off their foundations. It damaged the local flour mill, causing over $1 million in losses and destroying roofs and storage bins. The vortex also overturned several semi-trailers, tractors, and cars. One vehicle flew over 100 meters during the event. Trees across the area lost their bark, and building walls buckled inward from the extreme wind pressure.
What caused the Elie tornado?
A low pressure system moving from Saskatchewan into Manitoba created the conditions for the storm on June 22. Very warm air with high humidity and temperatures in the high 20s Celsius fueled the atmosphere. A lake breeze boundary triggered rapid storm development in the Red River Valley. Strong wind shear provided the necessary environment for the supercell to produce the tornado. High helicity values indicated significant rotating updrafts within the system.
What happened after the Elie tornado?
Environment Canada dispatched a storm damage survey team from the Prairie and Arctic Storm Prediction Centre the following day. Experts initially rated the event as F4 before upgrading it to F5 on September 18, 2007. Researchers later presented findings at the American Meteorological Society's conference to confirm the structural failure analysis. This rating remains the final F5 designation in Canada as the country transitioned to the Enhanced Fujita scale standards.
Elie Tornado Track
The mapped ground track below shows the surveyed touchdown point, damage corridor, and dissipation coordinates recorded by NWS field crews. The Elie tornado traveled 3.7 mi across Elie, Manitoba, Canada. Coordinates are derived from the official SPC historical tornado database.
Was the Elie tornado the only F5 in Canada?
Yes, the Elie tornado is the only tornado in Canadian history to be officially rated F5 on the Fujita scale.
How much damage did the Elie tornado cause?
The tornado caused approximately $39 million in damages, which equates to $56.1 million in 2024 dollars.
What was the maximum width of the Elie tornado?
The tornado reached a maximum width of 150 yards (140 meters) during its 35-minute lifespan.
Did the Elie tornado follow a straight path?
No, the tornado was known for its erratic path, including multiple loops and sharp turns throughout the town of Elie.