Sarnia-Lambton's annual CANWARN training session was held Wednesday night at Sarnia Yacht Club.
Environment Canada meteorologist Geoff Coulson says a network of volunteers across the province provides critical eyewitness weather information that technology can't.
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Coulson says there are about a dozen tornadoes across Ontario in a typical season. Last year there were 19, most of which were weak and shortlived, but major events occurred in Grand Bend and in Angus near Barrie.
A recent study by Environment Canada researchers identified southwestern Ontario and the southern Prairies as having the greatest frequency of tornadoes.
May 31 of this year is the 30th anniversary of a one day outbreak of 13 tornadoes in Ontario. Two, in the Grand Valley and Barrie areas, were F4 storms that killed 11 people and caused millions of dollars of damage.
While watches and warnings are issued for a small percentage of storms, the public is reminded that all thunderstorms have lightning and we're advised to go indoors when thunder roars.
CANWARN began in Windsor in 1987 in the amateur radio community.
