Storm chaser says local damage just like deadly American storms

A group of Quebec storm chasers said the damage they are seeing in Gatineau, Que.,is as bad as they have seen after deadly storms in the American Midwest.

Nicolas Lessard with the storm chasing group Xtrem Chase Qubechas travelled extensively to states such as New Mexico, Kansas and Oklahoma where tornadoes are more common.

"The tornado that hit Dunrobinin rural west Ottawa and the Gatineau area is comparable to what we have seen in the United States," he said.

"We couldn't go to the Dunrobin areabecause it was closed, but the pictures we have seen online show it is really devastating."

He said this stormwascompletely different from what is usually seen in this part of Canada.

"For Quebec, even for Ontario that force of a tornado was very impressive," he said.

The U.S. National Centersfor Environmental Information says tornadoes as strong as the EF-3that moved from Dunrobin to Gatineauwith winds as strong as 265 km/hare rare and don't usually happen outside of the States.

'Lives in danger'

Lessard said in American states that are used to tornadoes, people tend to run for cover, but in this storm there was some incredible video taken because people may not have realized how serious the situation was.

"We don't usually see this type of footage, because in the United States when there is a tornado warning they go in shelters, they go in their bathrooms, their basement," he said.

"[Here they] filmed through their windows. They put their lives in danger."

Lessard said thesix confirmed tornadoes in the region is an incredible number for the area to have seen in such a short period of time.

RAW: Ottawa-Gatineau tornado footage

6 years ago

Duration 1:01

Strong winds cause massive power outages and destroy homes