1946 Windsor–Tecumseh tornado


On June 17, 1946, a deadly and powerful tornado moved through the city of Windsor, Ontario, killing 17 people. The tornado was the most powerful tornado to strike Windsor, when it was at F4 intensity. The tornado touched down near River Rouge, Michigan, then crossed the Detroit River and made landfall in the Brighton Beach neighbourhood of Windsor. It then cut across southern Windsor and northern Sandwich West Township, Ontario, along a path in length. It also cut across Highway 3 before weakening somewhat. The storm then touched down as an F4 again at the modern-day intersection of Walker Road and Grand Marais Road, near the center of the city.

Tornado summary

The tornado took a northeastward path. It cut through a partially undeveloped area with few housing subdivisions and narrowly missed Windsor Airport, which was located just south of the tornado
route. It then traveled through the northwest part of Tecumseh, Ontario, then dissipated over Lake St. Clair.
The storm's path was approximately wide, and followed Turkey Creek for much of its length after crossing the Detroit River, and travelled 60 km. The storm's damage ranged from F3–F4, to some F5 damage from completely destroyed houses that were lifted off their foundations.
Since the tornado had cut power to the main printing offices of the Windsor Star, the Detroit News assisted by offering their printing facilities.
The tornado knocked out power to most of the city for about a day, and damaged or destroyed roughly 400 homes in Windsor.

Radio reports

Although CKLW broadcast to the areas affected by the tornado, there are no recordings of this incident in their archives. CBC Toronto is the only radio station that has kept reports of the tornado in its archives. The CBC Archives contain records of damages and deaths incurred, reported looting, and accounts from eyewitnesses.

Aftermath

After the tornado, civility and order were quickly restored by the police. Many accounts of the tornado were told over the radio, and the Ontario Provincial Government even explained the conditions that are favourable for tornado development, to alleviate the public's fears of an "epidemic of tornadoes", especially since one week later, a tornado struck the towns of Fort Frances and International Falls.