The haunting 2020 Manitoba tornado that was widely photographed
On this day in weather history, a tornado hit Virden, Man.
This Day In Weather History is a daily podcast by Chris Mei from The Weather Network, featuring stories about people, communities and events and how weather impacted them.
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On Friday, Aug. 7, 2020, an EF-3 tornado hit Virden, Man. That evening a severe thunderstorm moved across Pipestone, dumping large hail along its path.
That evening, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) issued a severe thunderstorm warning for the area.
The twister occurred around 8 p.m., staying on the ground for around 10-15 minutes and sustaining wind speeds up to 260 km/h. Upon the first examination, officials thought the tornado was an EF-2, but after further investigation, it was clear that it was an EF-3.
The tornado destroyed a farm, taking down 13 out of 18 grain silos. It also downed power lines, leaving 500 Manitoba Hydro customers in the dark.
The tornado also carried two cars, tossing them into a nearby field. Officers found a 54-year-old man from the Sioux Valley Dakota First Nation who had sustained injuries. He was taken to a hospital and survived.
Officers also found two 18-year-olds who were thrown from their vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene.
The tornado was captured from many angles and posted extensively over social media.
To learn more about the Virden tornado, listen to today's episode of "This Day In Weather History."
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Thumbnail courtesy of Sean Schofer and Prairie Storm Chasers.
