For much of this year, Canadians have looked on as tornado after tornado has hit the U.S. But now, weather experts say residents here may need to prepare for twisters as well.

South of the border, the U.S. already appears to be on track to set an unwanted record. If current trends hold, an unprecedented number of tornados will have touched down in the country.

The latest twister hit Friday in Minnesota, making its way through the Midwest. No deaths or injuries were reported. But the twister cut a nearly-kilometre-wide path of destruction in the northwestern part of the state, destroying homes, toppling trees, and cutting power to thousands of residents.

While American residents appear to be getting the worst of this season's twister season, weather experts say Canadians may not necessarily escape unscathed. Tornadoes have already hit Manitoba five times this year. One barely swept past a small community near Winnipeg.

Weather experts say Ontario residents should also get ready for a stormy summer.

Jay Anderson, a meteorologist at the University of Manitoba, says that's "because (the region is) tapping into the high humidity that fuels these storms, and the particular jet stream and wind pattern that causes the tornadoes."

Despite this summer's prospects, Canada has so far not come close to the number of bad storms that have struck the U.S. Residents there have endured 1,300 tornadoes this year alone -- and that's before the U.S. has even reached its peak season for twisters.

"It's just a huge explosion in the number of Tornadoes that they've seen already," said Anderson.

Part of the problem may have to do with what's happening here in Canada. Experts say unusual cold fronts from north of the U.S. border are flowing southwards. There they disrupt masses of moist, warm air -- and that sends clouds swirling and tornadoes on their furious paths.

Environment Canada tornado facts:

  • On average, about 80 twisters hit Canada each year
  • Twisters cause on average two deaths and 20 injuries in any given year
  • Odds of dying from a tornado: 12 million to one
  • Canada's worst recorded tornado occurred in 1912 in Regina. Hundreds of people were injured and 28 died
  • If a tornado doesn't appear to be moving, it's either moving directly away from you or straight into your path
  • Canada's "tornado alleys" are: southern Ontario, Alberta, southeastern Quebec, and a stretch from southern Saskatchewan and Manitoba through to Thunder Bay

With a report by CTV's Murray Oliver