Hail, rain, heavy winds, but was there an actual tornado?

Although Environment Canada can't confirm a tornado hit the ground Tuesday, a New Brunswickmeteorologist says that doesn't mean it didn't happen.

Environment Canada issued a tornado watch for Miramichi and the surroundingarea on Tuesday night.

Earlier in the evening, a tornado warning, a step up from a watch, was issuedfor Stanley,Doaktown and Blackville.

Environment Canada later lifted the watch and warning.

• Tornado watches for Miramichi and area ended

"Even though this morning we have not received any new information, sometimes over the weekend a lot of people will go to their fishing camp and then see all the damage around their camp,"saidClaudeCt, a warning preparedness meteorologist inNew Brunswick.

Ctsaid Environment Canada was in touch with themunicipalities covered by the tornado warning and learned they didn't seen any damage.

In the past, Ct said, the Department of Natural Resources and other agencies would alsofly over a particular area and see a tornado signatureafter a severe storm.

Tornadoes in New Brunswick?

Ctsaid the province can see up to threetornadoesa year, ranging from a F0 to F1 level, which he described as weak in intensity. In June, he said, weather conditions are typically unsettled.

Tornadoes are more likely to appear in the northern part of the province than the south.

"Along the shore, like the Bay ofFundy, we tend to see a bit less because of the Maritime-type climate."

"It's more rare in New Brunswick than it is in thePrairies, but they're not uncommon."

What causes a tornado?

Tuesday's tornado warning was issued because of severe thunderstorms passing through the province, Ct said.

Parts of the province also sawheavy downpours, strong winds and hail.

Ctsaid that whenever there's a severe thunderstorm, there's a possibility of a tornado and changes to the wind direction.

"We had unsettled conditions," he said. "The air mass was unstable and conditions were conducive to produce some thunderstorm activity."

If there's a a tornado, he said, residents should go into abasement orstructure of solid walls, rather than stay near windows, even if the sight outdoors is spectacular.