May 31, 1985: The day the sky unleashed fury on central Ontario

May 31, 1985: The day the sky unleashed fury on central Ontario

It was a day that began like any other, warm, humid, with the promise of summer in the air. But all that would soon change into the afternoon hours as the sky turned an eerie shade of green. By the time the sun set on May 31, 1985, Mother Nature had left her mark on central Ontario.

40 years later: Lessons from the 1985 Barrie tornado and how far forecasting has come

On May 31, 1985, one of the deadliest tornadoes in Canadian history tore through Barrie, leaving a trail of devastation and marking a turning point in how we prepare for severe weather. Four decades later, meteorologists are still learning from that day — and working to keep the public better informed and prepared. Geoff Coulson, an Emergency Preparedness Meteorologist with Environment Canada, remembers that day well. “I was actually on a day of…

Looking back at the science of warning storms in 1985 #OntarioLife #ScienceNews #CanadaLife

News May 31, 1985, will go down as one of the largest and deadliest tornado outbreaks in this country’s history, with a total of 43 tornadoes touching down in Ohio, Pennsylvania, upstate New York, and Ontario. “It was described as organized, but organized chao May 31, 1985, will go down as one of the largest and deadliest tornado outbreaks in this country’s history, with a total of 43 tornadoes touching down in Ohio, Pennsylvania, upstate New Y…

Remembering the destruction from the 1985 tornado

Grand Valley survivor reflects on impact 40 years later Written By BRIAN LOCKHART It has been 40 years since a devastating series of tornadoes ripped across central Ontario. The severe weather incident happened on Friday, May 31, 1985, leaving a trail of destruction in the Town of Grand Valley and killing two town residents. Another eight people died in Barrie as the storm moved northwest across the province. According to Environment Canada, a t…