July 31st storm just missed national top ten weather story list last year

Ken Johnston
Editor

While it twisted its way to the top of the local news last year, the July 31, 2001 storm just missed making the top 10 weather stories in the country as rated by Environment Canada.
Environment Canada called the July 31st storm, “Ontario’s Worst Storm” and designated it as a runner up to the top 10 weather stories for the year. The storm saw twisters touch down near Emo and in Morson. It ripped off roofs, snapped hydro poles like they were twigs and overturned houseboats. Torrents of rain saw Highway 621 closed for a few days as flooding washed it out in several places. Electricity was also out for some time and basements all across the region were filled with water and sewage.
Environment Canada’s top 10 weather stories were:
1. Drought from coast to coast. Most of the country, with the exception of Northwestern Ontario, experienced drought.
2. Never ending winter in eastern Canada. Toronto endured 104 days of snow cover, the longest in 130 years.
3. Record breaking hot and humid summer in much of the nation.
4. The biggest non-event holds this spot. Despite the hot and humid weather the country’s wildfire season was tame for the third year in a row.
5. Bad air days from Sault Ste. Marie to Sydney, Nova Scotia.
6. Extremely active hurricane season on the east coast.
7. Winter recreation saw the east enjoy the best snow and ice conditions in years and the west wondering if winter would ever arrive.
8. A week of powerful storms in mid-December in BC saw 100 year old trees toppled and school closures in Surrey.
9. Warmer than average year for Canada and the world.
10. The number of freak lightning deaths during the summer. Four people were killed.