Draft:2023 Didsbury tornado
| EF4 tornado | |
|---|---|
| Type | Tornado |
| Formed | 1:45PM, July 1, 2023 |
| Highest winds | |
| Max. rating1 | EF4 tornado |
| Fatalities | 0 Fatalities, 1 Injury |
| 1Most severe tornado damage; see Enhanced Fujita scale | |
On July 1, 2023, at 1:45PM Local Time, an extremely violent EF4 tornado leveled homes just south of Didsbury, Alberta. Although causing no fatalities and only 1 injury, this tornado caused severe damage. A ground survey later determined the tornado to have winds upwards of 275km/h(170mph).[1] After conducting more research into the event, the tornado was revealed to have thrown a heavy piece of farming equipment with median estimated winds of 260mph, making this tornado much more violent than the rating suggests.[2]
Damage Path
[edit]The tornado touched down in between Range Road 23 and Range Road 22 (51.6107, -114.1980), the tornado at this point already had somewhat high winds, ripping up trees over a mile away. The tornado traveled towards Range Road 22, uprooting and snapping some trees at a farm. The tornado then traveled through fields, eventually reaching Range Road 21, still causing some tree damage. It then ripped some siding off a house, and leveled a small outbuilding. It then traveled passed more roads and through fields before rapidly intensifying to EF4 intensity. It hit a house, several outbuildings were swept away, and the house was leveled. Many trees and the area were debarked, snapped, or uprooted. It then hit a house across the street, collapsing a wall, but not the entire home. It then crossed through more fields, throwing a garden shed. It then hit another house, ripping off part of the roof and gutters, and causing some tree damage. The tornado broke windows in several more homes, and destroyed an outbuilding. The tornado passed through many more fields, before dissipating north of a house (51.5850,-113.9996).[3]
Aftermath
[edit]The tornado had caused severe damage after hitting 12 homes, 3 were destroyed, 4 were uninhabitable, and 5 more were damaged. This was one of three tornadoes rated EF/F4 in Alberta, alongside the Edmonton Tornado (1987), and the Grassy Lake Tornado (1915). After further research by NTP, it was confirmed a Combine Harvester had been thrown a credible distance, which wind estimates showed a median of 260mph was required.[2]