Tornado warning lifted with no Fort Erie touchdown confirmed
August 2, 2026 at 5:43 PM
Environment Canada placed Fort Erie under a tornado warning Sunday afternoon as meteorologists tracked a severe thunderstorm near Niagara Falls that may have been producing a tornado.
The warning, issued at 12:43 p.m., covered the Niagara Falls, Welland and the southern Niagara region, which includes Fort Erie.
At the time, the agency called the situation very dangerous and potentially life-threatening, and urged anyone in the warning area to take cover the moment threatening weather approached.
The tornado warning has since ended; Environment Canada lifted the red tornado warning by 1:10 p.m.
As of Sunday evening, Fort Erie Radio had not found official confirmation from Environment Canada or Western University’s Northern Tornadoes Project that a tornado touched down in Fort Erie.
The storm was moving east at 25 km/h. Environment Canada listed Chippawa, Niagara Falls, Queenston, Thorold, Virgil and St. Davids in its path.
Radar suggested the storm was possibly producing a tornado. Damaging winds, large hail and locally intense rainfall were also possible.
Environment Canada tells residents to shelter in a basement, an interior room or another sturdy building during a tornado warning. A person caught outside with no shelter should lie in a low spot and protect their head from flying debris.
Anyone on the water should return to shore if possible or move directly away from the tornado’s path. Emergency Management Ontario gives the same advice: take cover immediately.
Conditions in Fort Erie had already turned severe by early afternoon. At 12:42 p.m., the town recorded heavy rain, northwest wind gusting to 58 km/h and visibility of 600 metres.
Fort Erie remained under a separate rainfall warning later Sunday afternoon.
According to Environment Canada’s 4:40 p.m. update, localized heavy rainfall and thunderstorms were continuing in the Niagara Falls, Welland and the southern Niagara region.
The agency said total local rainfall amounts of 50 to 80 mm were possible, with poor visibility in torrential downpours. Rain was expected to diminish from west to east later Sunday afternoon and evening.
Environment Canada warns drivers to stay out of flooded roadways and watch for washouts near rivers, creeks and culverts.
In August 2024, a small tornado touched down in Fort Erie, damaging trees, roofs, barns and vehicles, flipping a travel trailer in the Garrison Road Walmart parking lot and knocking out power in parts of town, including Stevensville, before the storm crossed into Buffalo.
Environment Canada asks residents to keep monitoring its alerts and forecasts while the rainfall warning remains in effect.
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Andrew Hawlitzky
Andrew is a Niagara community journalist who has covered everything from local politics to annual festivals and breaking news. He works to make local news a platform where community voices lead the conversation. "If you don't like the news, go out and make some!"
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