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Fall tornado confirmed in Southern Alberta

Oct 7, 2017 | 7:00 PM

BROOKS – A rare occurrence in Southern Alberta – a fall tornado.  Environment Canada confirmed the twister touched down about 15-km (10 m) southeast of the hamlet of Jenner, around 2:30 on Saturday (Oct 7) afternoon. Jenner is  northeast of Brooks.

No damage was reported and the twister was given a preliminary rating of EF-0.  The ‘Enhanced Fujita’ scale, or EF-scale, rates the intensity of tornadoes in Canada and the U.S. based on the damage they cause.

An EF-0 tornado has wind speed of between 104 and 137 km/h (65 and 85 mph). It is capable of damaging roofs, gutters or siding, breaking tree branches and toppling shallow rooted trees.  However, confirmed tornadoes with no reported damage, such as the one near Jenner in an open field, are routinely rated EF-0.