Tornado and Earthquake Hit Ontario on Eve of G8 and G20

Reuters is reporting on the odd weather events that are plaguing Ontario, Canada this week.

As International leaders gather for the Group of Eight and G20 summits in the province, the region has been subject to a tornado and a 5.0 magnitude earthquake. In addition, violent thunderstorms are being predicted.

In the past 24 hours alone, southern Ontario has been hit by a 5.0 magnitude earthquake and a tornado. Violent thunderstorms are predicted for later Thursday.

David Phillips, meteorologist for Environment Canada, said, “You can’t go four days in a row without having some moisture … what they’re seeing is the full suite of weather possibilities at this time of year, beginning with a tornado.”

A Reuters reporter joked that a plague of frogs might be next, to which Mr. Phillips responded, “It’s unlikely because there doesn’t seem to be any weather in the area, like dust devils or waterspouts picking up frogs from wetlands and carrying them over there.”

The weather in Huntsville, the resort town hosting the G8 on Friday and Saturday, has been given a weather prediction that includes pleasant days and temperatures around 73 degrees (Fahrenheit, or 23 Celsius).

Phillips offered another reason for summit participants to be optimistic, “There’s no volcanic activity in that area so I think they’re safe from that point of view,” he said.