Parts of this article (those related to Tornado count) need to be updated. The reason given is: List page number does not match main page number. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(December 2023)
This page documents all tornadoes confirmed by Environment Canada and the University of Western Ontario's Northern Tornadoes Project (NTP) in Canada throughout 2023. Based on statistical modelling by Sills et al. (2012), an average of 230 tornadoes likely occur across the country each year; however, only 61 of these are actually documented annually based on 1980–2009 averages.[1] This makes Canada the second-most active country in the world for tornadoes.[2] The majority of confirmed events occur in the more densely populated areas of southern Canada, where people are around to report them.[3] In Alberta specifically, meteorologists estimated that 30–50 percent of tornadoes that actually occur go unreported, with NTP executive director David Sills stating, "we just don't get reports from the moose."[4] In an attempt to better document the nation's tornadoes, the NTP was founded in 2017 as a joint venture by the University of Western Ontario and ImpactWX. Their initial scope was to catalogue previously unrecognized tornadoes in densely forested areas across Ontario and Quebec; however, this later expanded to tornadoes nationwide in 2019.[1]
The year started slowly, possibly due to thunderstorm activity being suppressed by smoke from record-breaking wildfires.[2] The first tornado of 2023 occurred on May 11 in Alberta while the strongest was an EF4 tornado on July 1, also in Alberta. The most active day of the year was an outbreak of 10 EF0 tornadoes on June 14 in rural areas of Alberta.[5]
Annual summary
Monthly statistics of Canadian tornadoes during 2023[nb 1]
A brief landspout tornado was videoed; no damage was observed.[6] This was the first landspout classified as a tornado by the NTP following a change in operations in June 2023.[7]
A brief tornado tore the roof from a large machine shed, causing one of its walls to collapse, and scattered debris up to 2.5 km (1.6 mi) downstream.[8] The tornado was described as being unusual for this time of year.[9] Equally unusual is that this was the only tornado reported in Saskatchewan in 2023. [10]
Aerial surveys revealed a tornado touched down just south of the Canada–United States border and moved northeast into Canada. Damage was confined to trees.[11] Only the Canadian portion of the track was surveyed.[6][12]
This violent tornado initially touched down over rural areas southwest of Didsbury, oscillating in intensity as it moved east. The tornado produced EF4 damage along Highway 2A between Didsbury and Carstairs. There, a well-built home was completely destroyed;[14] the sole occupant was injured.[15] Near this home, a 22,000 lb (10,000 kg) combine harvester was thrown 160 ft (50 m) before being rolled a further 160 to 330 ft (50 to 100 m). Trees were stubbed and debarked on the property.[16] Power lines were downed and one gas leak occurred at a destroyed home.[15] Significant ground scouring was observed in the area.[17] The tornado turned east-southeast from this location, eventually crossing Highway 2 before dissipating.[14][16] Altogether, three homes were destroyed, four were rendered uninhabitable, and five were damaged.[16] Twenty-five cows, twenty chickens, and one horse were also killed.[15]
A brief tornado touched down in the Templemead neighbourhood of southern Hamilton. One business had minor roof damage.[6] This was the first tornado to strike the city in 18 years.[18]
