After a severe storm forced festival goers at the Essex Fun Fest to flee last month, Essex MP Chris Lewis is demanding a review of the current severe weather notification system.
Lewis says the nearest Canadian weather radar system is in Exeter, 200 km away from Essex County, despite the region's history of severe storms and tornadoes.
"Essex County is one of Canada's most active severe weather regions due to its unique geographic location situated between Lake Erie and Lake St. Clair, as well as its proximity to the U.S. Midwest storm track," wrote Lewis in a letter to the Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Nature, Julie Dabrusin. "Since 2018, Essex County has experienced several tornadoes, many of which occurred without timely severe weather warnings issued from Environment and Climate Change Canada."
Lewis wrote that lack of timely warning has led residents to rely on bulletins from the U.S. National Weather Service.
"Severe weather alerts are often issued only after a tornado or severe storms have already impacted the region," he complained. "Following your delayed response, in May 2026, to the correspondence from the Town of Essex, dated September 16, 2025, another severe storm devastated Windsor-Essex on July 3, 2026."
Lewis said 1,600 people had to be evacuated to the nearby Essex Arena when severe weather blew over tents and displays. Four people suffered injuries.
"Thankfully, there were no life-threatening injuries or lives lost this time," wrote Lewis. "Heavy rain, hail, and wind gusts up to 129 km/h knocked out power for thousands, leaving a trail of destruction for residents and municipalities to clean up."
"On July 9, 2026, Environment and Climate Change Canada issued a severe thunderstorm watch for our area, and precisely when residents and businesses needed accurate, real-time data to protect themselves, the Exeter weather radar station went offline. This is not an isolated incident. It is part of a recurring pattern," alleged Lewis.
Lewis is calling on the agency to assess its severe weather notification warning processes and procedures for Essex County, and take necessary steps to provide Essex County with a radar system capable of delivering timely and reliable severe weather warnings.
