EF4 Tornado Confirmed in Didsbury, Alberta

The EF4-rated damage occurred at the farm on the west side of Highway 2A. It was a well-constructed home, and all exterior and above-grade interior walls were knocked down. Debris was scattered well downwind. One person took shelter in the basement and survived. Northern Tornadoes Project

The Northern Tornadoes Project and Environment and Climate Change Canada have determined that the tornado that hit Didsbury, Alberta on Canada Day was an EF4 on the Enhanced Fujita scale.

An EF4 tornado is classified as "violent" with wind speeds between 166 and 200 km/h.

A few homes were destroyed or damaged. Thankfully, there were no injuries as a result of the tornado.

This tornado is the highest-rated tornado in Alberta since the tornado that hit Edmonton in 1987.

There was a tornado warning in effect for Mountain View County near Olds and Didsbury and Mountain View County near Carstairs and Stirlingville.

Environment Canada meteorologists were tracking a severe thunderstorm that was producing a tornado. Damaging winds, large hail and locally intense rainfall were also expected.

Environment and Climate Change Canada received many reports and photos of an ongoing tornado occurring between Didsbury and Carstairs.

The Enhanced Fujita Scale is used to assign a tornado a rating based on estimated wind speeds and related damage. An EF0 is the weakest and an EF5 is the strongest.

Earlier story: Tornado causes damage in Alberta