Canadian Severe Storms Lab

Spark had the best rainy day with the Canadian Severe Storm Lab. Guests got to learn how the Northern Hail Project team tracks down the perfect #storm and the tools used to get hail data!

They also showed off their storm-chasing vehicles and surveillance drones. ⛈️

Thanks for coming @cssl.ca!

Hail damage across Calgary has teams documenting the fallout - The Weather Network Researchers from Western University are closely examining the damage caused by a hailstorm in Calgary on July 13 to improve preparations for this recurring type of event. Connor O'Donovan reports.

Calgary has a long history of intense hailstorms, and this summer is no different.
@weathernetwork.bsky.social spoke with #WesternU hail researcher Matthew Woodward, who is on the ground documenting damage from a recent storm for @cssl.ca

What Canada could learn from the tragic consequences of the Texas flash flood Flash floods are increasing in frequency, severity and impact. The Canadian government needs to learn from the Texas tragedy and co-ordinate weather information and warning systems.

What Canada could learn from the tragic consequences of the Texas flash flood (written by Dr. Gordon McBean) theconversation.com/what-canada-...

a bald man with a ring on his finger is pointing at the camera ALT: a bald man with a ring on his finger is pointing at the camera

Come here…to Toronto!
Registration is now open for the @ametsoc.org @ametsoc-radar.bsky.social 41st International Conference on Radar Meteorology!

www.ametsoc.org/ams/meetings...

After extensive analysis, the NTP is able to provide documentation for the 10 tornadoes that occurred as part of an outbreak in southern SK on June 19th. The outbreak included 2 EF2 and three EF1 tornadoes.

Full details at www.uwo.ca/ntp/blog/202...

#SKstorm

CSSL researchers examine tree damage

The CSSL is featured in the current episode of CBC Radio's Quirks and Quarks! Head here for the link to the audio:

www.cbc.ca/radio/quirks...

Thanks to our colleagues Harold Brooks, John Allen, Paul Kovacs and Tanya Brown-Giammanco for contributing.

Big crowd for this month’s CSSL Seminar now that all of the interns have started (there are even more online). Speaking today is Dr. Connell Miller, Director of CSSL’s Northern Mesonet Project (@westernunmp.bsky.social), on experimental tornado wind estimation methods. @westernuresearch.bsky.social

The NTP has confirmed that a tornado occurred in southern Alberta near Rolling Hills yesterday. Analysis of photos/video, radar and storm environment indicates that this was a 'landspout'-type tornado. It is also the first recorded tornado of the year in Canada. Further details soon. #ABstorm

NTP Tornado Warning Performance Assessment cover page

The NTP has completed a third Tornado Warning Performance Assessment for Canada, this time covering 2023-2024. It includes a 'report card' on progress.

And we're happy to report that there has been progress - the overall score has improved enough to earn a 'C'.

Details here: uwo.ca/ntp/blog/202...

A very big update is now live on the Canadian Mesonet Portal! This includes new meteorological variables, saving / exporting settings and more! For more details, you can check out the link below. But here are the main highlights for you to see in a 🧵:

www.uwo.ca/nmp/news/202...

NTP's Annual Report for 2024 is now available!

The 2024 Canadian tornado season started Mar 16 and ended Nov 10 - the longest on record since at least 1980. And the 129 tornadoes for the year comes second only to 2022 when there was 131.

Press release and link: news.westernu.ca/2025/02/torn...

There is one remaining online info session for those interested in CSSL intern opportunities - Jan 23 at 7 pm ET. Note the application deadline is Jan 27.

You can learn more about the CSSL internship program and how to register for the info session here: westernuniversity.zoom.us/meeting/regi...

The sad news reached us that Chuck Doswell has passed away. ESSL will be forever grateful for his intensive engagement. With his unique talent to reduce severe storm science to its core and his engaging style of teaching and friendliness he has made an enormous impact on European storm research.

The NTP systematic satellite imagery review for 2024 also turned up 11 new tornadoes from 2013 to 2023!

The following blog post provides details for these, as well as for a damage track reported on social media and confirmed by NTP as a tornado from 1988: uwo.ca/ntp/blog/202...

At the end of each year, NTP staff undertake a systematic review of satellite imagery to find any forest damage that may have been missed. In 2024, it turned up 14 new tornadoes. Add in a couple of stragglers, and the 2024 count goes up to 129. A busy year!

Details here: uwo.ca/ntp/blog/202...

There will be two online info sessions for those interested in CSSL intern opportunities - Jan 8 at 12:30 PM ET and Jan 23 at 7 pm ET. You can learn more about the CSSL internship program and how to register for an info session here: uwo.ca/cssl/interns...

Dive into real-world research and fieldwork with the CSSL Summer Internship Program!

Learn more and apply here: uwo.ca/cssl/internships/index.html

Don't miss your chance to gain hands-on experience with leading hail and tornado experts in the field.

Applications close on January 27th.

Hello Bluesky! We’re thrilled to be here! If you missed our launch in late October and haven’t visited the Canadian Mesonet Portal yet, you can find it here!

meso.cssl.ca

If you were wondering where to show your newest research results on severe storms next year: ESSL & KNMI are proud to announce the 12th ECSS, which will take place in Utrecht, Netherlands between 17 and 21 November 2025. Looking forward to seeing you there!

Prof. Greg Kopp is the Director of the newly launched Canadian Severe Storms Laboratory.

Congrats to Dr. Kopp on his Engineering R&D award!!!

Map of tornadoes in Canada from 2017 to 2024

The Northern Tornadoes Project has arrived at BlueSky!

To see what we're all about, check out our website at uwo.ca/ntp. And make sure to interact with our map of Canada's tornadoes via the NTP Dashboard at uwo.ca/ntp/dashboard. Now up to 113 tornadoes for 2024 (5 in November!). #WXbluesky

YouTube video by Western University The Canadian Severe Storms Laboratory at Western University

Check out the video introduction to the new Canadian Severe Storms Laboratory! www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYc2...

The CSSL held an international symposium as part of the its launch in late October, 2024.

The Canadian Severe Storms Laboratory has launched 🚀. Backed by 60 years of expertise in #wind engineering—and a $20M gift from ImpactWX—it will revolutionize how we understand Canada’s most extreme #weather. At our new website, cssl.ca, you can watch a recording of the first CSSL Symposium.