Tornado that touched down north of Holmesville on July 26, 2025. (Photo by: Jamie Worne/ Randomshots_lifeinpixels)Tornado that touched down north of Holmesville on July 26, 2025. (Photo by: Jamie Worne/ Randomshots_lifeinpixels)
Midwestern

Tornado spotted north of Holmesville

A tornado reportedly touched down in midwestern Ontario on Saturday.

According to Ontario Storm Watch, the tornado was spotted north of Holmesville between Goderich and Clinton.

Meteorologist Christina Frenchman said at the time Environment Canada was monitoring a thunderstorm in southern Lake Huron showing signs of strengthening rotation.

A tornado warning was issued for the southern part of Lake Huron for the marine region at around 6:15 p.m. Saturday but was called off at 6:50 p.m.

"There was one damage report at Shelter Valley Campground over the land at that point in Northern Huron County, which prompted us to issue a tornado warning over the land at 7:40 p.m.," Frenchman said.

She said there was some tree damage but no injuries were reported.

Damage at the Shelter Valley Campground on July 27, 2025 (Photo by: Lindsay De Melo)Damage at the Shelter Valley Campground on July 27, 2025 (Photo by: Lindsay De Melo)

Lindsay De Melo said she was at the campground visiting her wife's family when they noticed the weather getting worse.

"[When] we drove out of the driveway we could see the funnel cloud coming at us sideways," she said. "[My wife] gunned the car to get around it before we were in its path. We parked in a safe spot on the roadway outside of the campground and watched the funnel head straight for the campground."

De Melo said they called their family right away to advise them to take shelter.

"It touched down for quite a while and there were many trees pulled out of the ground," she said.

A tree out of the ground at Shelter Valley Campground on July 26, 2025 (Photo by: Lindsay De Melo)A tree out of the ground at Shelter Valley Campground on July 26, 2025 (Photo by: Lindsay De Melo)

Meanwhile, Annie Schneider said she was at her cottage along Lake Huron at the time of the funnel cloud.

"We could see low angry shelf clouds over the lake. Our cottage is 100 years old with a lot of trees, so we decided to leave," she said. "The storm was very concentrated but highly active, we could see the clouds swirling."

She added at the time she was facing east, south of Cutline Road in Central Huron.

The Tornado in Central Huron on July 26, 2025 (Photo by: Annie Schneider)The Tornado in Central Huron on July 26, 2025 (Photo by: Annie Schneider)

On social media, there were videos circulating of the tornado at approximately 7 p.m., added Frenchman.

At the time the weather agency had no alerts in place for the area when the tornado formed.

She said sometimes warnings don't get out in time.

"Unfortunately once we saw these reports [the tornado] had already occurred," Frenchman said.

The Northern Tornado's Project has sent a survey team to the area. Anyone with a damage report is asked to submit it via uwo.ca/ntp or ntp@uwo.ca.

Frenchman reminds residents if you see a tornado or a warning is issued to seek shelter as quickly as you can.

--With files from Lindsay Newman

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