EF1 storm batters Lake Erie communities

Parts of Kingsville, Harrow and Colchester are still cleaning up a week after an EF1 downburst hit the southern end of the county on Wednesday, July 26.

The same storm toppled trees along the lakeshore in Leamington.

The storm hit Harrow before 4 pm and quickly travelled to Kingsville and on to Leamington.

Pelee Island was also hard hit, according to reports.

Environment Canada issued an urgent tornado warning on cell phones at 4:01 and followed with another at 4:12, but the storm had already hit Harrow and Kingsville and was bearing down on Leamington as the alerts were sent out.

Power was out in Kingsville for the better part of two days and Harrow for even longer.

Clean-up crews were on site in both communities immediately, helping residents out from under fallen trees.

Several tall pine trees were toppled in Greenhill Cemetery in Kingsville, appearing to be shattered right at the base of the trunk.

Officials from the Northern Tornadoes Project were on scene in Harrow and Kingsville on Thursday and Friday, determining the extent of the storm that produced 145 kph winds here.

an actual tornado in Blenheim about an hour later. Extra yard waste pickup days were issued by the Town of Kingsville for those who need to get rid of branches.

Many mature trees were lost in the storm, and thousands of dollars in damage was done to homes and vehicles caught under those downed trees.