Portal International Fire Department

06/12/2026

NORTH Gate TO OXBOW TORNADO
JUNE 9, 2026
PRELIMINARY EF3 RATING
🌪️ Environment and Climate Change Canada has assigned a preliminary EF3 rating to the tornado that tracked from the North Gate area toward Oxbow on June 9, 2026. The tornado is estimated to have produced peak winds of 245 km/h, causing significant damage across portions of southeast Saskatchewan.
HISTORIC EVENT
⚠️ This is the highest-rated tornado in Saskatchewan in 16 years, making it one of the province's most significant tornado events in recent history. Preliminary reports indicate widespread structural and agricultural damage along portions of the tornado's path.
STORM RECAP
Date: June 9, 2026
Location: North Gate – Oxbow Corridor
Rating: Preliminary EF3
Estimated Peak Winds: 245 km/h
Length estimated 32km
Status: Damage assessments ongoing
Highest-rated Saskatchewan tornado since 2010
📸 Photo by SKStormchaser Photography
SKSTORMCHASER PHOTOGRAPHY
Tracking Saskatchewan's Extreme Weather

06/10/2026

This storm is passing just to the west of Portal, and will continue to track to the NE, please seek shelter if you live North of North Portal as well as this storm continues it's track NE.

06/10/2026

This storm is approaching Columbus and Portal/North Portal. Seek shelter now, Old School is open in portal for shelter.

06/09/2026

With the approaching thunderstorm this evening we would like to remind the community of the available storm shelters

Powers Lake
Legion Hall Basement

Bowbells
Bowbells Public School Gym

Flaxton
Flaxton Armory Hall

Lignite
Burke Central School Gym

Columbus
Columbus Fire Hall

Portal
Old Public School Bathrooms

Point of contact for all storm shelters are the area fire chiefs

05/03/2026

05/02/2026

NO open burning in Burke County if you see smoke call 911 with the high winds the next few days it will be hard to stop a fire.

04/21/2026

VERY HIGH fire danger again today. No open burning allowed.

04/20/2026

Very High fire danger today. No open burning allowed. Dial 911 if you see or smell smoke!