Ayr tornado upgraded to EF2 after new drone footage shows extensive damage to trees

A tornado that hit the town of Ayr, Ont. back in August has been upgraded to an EF2 thanks to new drone footage showing extensive damage to trees along the storm's path.

A drone survey was conducted by researchers with the Northern Tornadoes Project out of Western University in London, Ont.

The group analyzed the pictures of a wooded area just south of where the tornado hit the town and found that more than 80 per cent of the trees in the tornadoes path were uprooted or snapped, which means the storm hit maximum wind speeds of 190 kilometres per hour. The length of the path was also extended to 7.3 kilometres, and the width was 390 metres.

"We do think that this is one of the strongest tornadoes of the season across the country," said David Sills, executive director for the Northern Tornadoes Project. 

It was originally thought the tornado was an EF1 because of the damage seen on the ground in and around town. In fact, Sills says, the tornado that hit Ayr, near the intersection of Greenfield Rd. and Northumberland St., was an EF1 at the time, which was shortly after it was at an EF2.

The last time there was a tornado that strong in Ayr was in 1983, Sills said. 

WATCH | Security camera footage of Ayr tornado shows destruction of Cowan Park:

Security camera footage shows an EF1 tornado tearing through Cowan Park in Ayr, Ont.

3 months ago

Duration 3:49

The Township of North Dumfries released new video showing a tornado ripping through Cowan Park in Ayr, Ont., on Aug. 17. "We are sharing this to show you the force of the tornado and the extensive damage the park sustained," a Facebook post by the township said.