Meet an Ottawa storm chaser who runs into the face of danger
When there's a storm brewing most people take cover, but Andrew Macklin dives right in.
- Sign up now for our daily CTV News Ottawa newsletters
- The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App
"Some days you'll see something you'll never see in your life," he said.
"That’s what draws me, it's the unknown."
Macklin has been a storm chaser for over ten years and has captured footage of storms across the province and the country.
"The morning of a storm, I'll drive to the target area and once it fires, you get on it like a dog on a bone and you relay info to Environment Canada as accurately as possible so they can warn the public," he said.
Now, he's sharing his adventures with enthusiasts at the Ottawa Public Library.
"Tornados are something quite beautiful in the beginning with the formation of the clouds and the colours," said Kathy Veck, a storm chasing enthusiast.
"But there's the bad part of tornados, too."
Ottawa has 'weathered' several storms and tornados in 2023. Two tornadoes in Barrhaven left behind a trail of destruction last July, ripping the roof off some homes and scattering debris across the neighbourhood.
Homes are left damaged following a tornado in the Ottawa suburb of Barrhaven on Thursday, July 13, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean KilpatrickJust weeks later, another tornado touched down in the capital in Findlay Creek and Riverside South.
Most tornado activity in the country happens in July, Macklin says. As Ottawa approaches the summer months, many are keen to educate themselves.
"It was heartbreaking to see some of the damage and that's why we have to take it seriously," said Veck. "We want to be storm savvy to protect ourselves."
Macklin says while anything is possible, he doesn't anticipate a repeat of last year's tornado season.
"I don’t have a crystal ball, but 2023 was an above average season," said Macklin.
"We are moving from an El Nino to a La Nina year, so the storms are favoured more in the southwestern region of Ontario, but that's not to say we won't see storms here in the summer."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Baby, grandparents among 4 people killed in wrong-way police chase on Ontario's Hwy. 401
A police chase which started with a liquor store robbery in Bowmanville Monday night ended in tragedy some 20 minutes later when a suspect fleeing police entered Highway 401 in the wrong direction and caused a pileup which killed an infant and the child's grandparents, as well as the suspect, investigators say.
McGill requests 'police assistance' over pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University says it has 'requested police assistance' about the pro-Palestinian encampment on its lower field.
Freeland tables motion previewing omnibus budget bill
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland will be tabling yet another omnibus bill to pass the sweeping range of measures promised in her April 16 federal budget.
Judge holds Trump in contempt, fines him US$9,000 and raises threat of jail in hush money trial
Donald Trump was held in contempt of court Tuesday and fined US$9,000 for repeatedly violating a gag order that barred him from making public statements about witnesses, jurors and some others connected to his New York hush money case. If he does it again, the judge warned, he could be jailed.
Air Canada walks back new seat selection policy change after backlash
Air Canada has paused a new seat selection fee for travellers booked on the lowest fares just days after implementing it.
Court upholds Milwaukee police officer's firing for posting racist memes after Sterling Brown arrest
The Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that a former Milwaukee police officer was properly fired for posting racist memes related to the arrest of an NBA player that triggered a public outcry.
New cancer treatment approved, but not everyone thinks it's what's best for patients
A new cancer treatment recently approved in Canada promises to cut treatment time down to just minutes, but experts have differing opinions on whether it's what's best for patients.
T. rex is at the centre of a debate over dinosaur intelligence
Surmising even the physical appearance of a dinosaur - or any extinct animal - based on its fossils is a tricky proposition, with so many uncertainties involved. Assessing a dinosaur's intelligence, considering the innumerable factors contributing to that trait, is exponentially more difficult.
Province boots mayor and council in small northern Ont. town out of office
An ongoing municipal strike, court battles and revolt by half of council has prompted the province to oust the mayor and council in Black River-Matheson.