Tornado warning swept through southeast Ottawa on Tuesday evening
Environment Canada issued a tornado warning for parts of rural Eastern Ontario, including southeast Ottawa near Vars, with damaging winds and large hail possible.
The day's top stories, food & events — every morning at 7. Unsubscribe anytime.
A tornado warning was issued for parts of rural Eastern Ontario, including southeast Ottawa, on Tuesday evening, July 21.
Environment Canada issued the advisory at 4:11 p.m. and updated it at 4:20 p.m., stating meteorologists were tracking a thunderstorm that "is possibly producing a tornado." The tornado's location was expected to be over Vars in the southeast end of Ottawa, with the weather agency stating "very high" confidence in its forecast.
The tornado was expected to move quickly to the northeast at speeds of 65 km/h. Other locations in the path might include Hammond, Bourget, Plantagenet, Fournier and Alfred. Damaging winds, large hail and intense rainfall were all possible.
"This is a very dangerous and potentially life-threatening situation," the advisory stated.
The facts
When was the tornado warning issued?
Environment Canada issued the tornado warning for southeast Ottawa at 4:11 p.m. on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, and updated it at 4:20 p.m.
Where was the tornado expected to be?
The tornado was expected to be over Vars in the southeast end of Ottawa, with possible movement through Hammond, Bourget, Plantagenet, Fournier, and Alfred.
How fast was the tornado expected to move?
The tornado was expected to move northeast at speeds of 65 km/h.
