How did I spend my birthday (June 22nd)?

Ducking the weather - literally. Video: F4 Tornado

As reported by Wikipedia:

"Eastern Prairie Outbreak June 22 - June 23, 2007. A rare combination of weather systems came together during the June weekend causing severe thunderstorms which spawned at least 8 tornadoes across Southeast Saskatchewan and Southern Manitoba. The most significant was an F4 which touched down near Elie, Manitoba[4] destroying 4 homes and heavily damaging a flour mill. Because the tornado crossed directly over one of the most travelled portions of the Trans-Canada Highway in the eastern prairie, a large number of photos and videos were taken. A large F3 wedge tornado also touched down near Pipestone, Manitoba[5]. Surprisingly there were a minimal amount of reported injuries resulting from all of the tornadoes."

As reported by Environment Canada:

"SUMMARY WEATHER STATEMENT ISSUED BY ENVIRONMENT CANADA AT 4:05 PM CDT SATURDAY 23 JUNE 2007.

A STORM INVESTIGATION TEAM FROM ENVIRONMENT CANADA IN WINNIPEG HAS SURVEYED THE AREA AROUND ELIE TO ASSESS TORNADO DAMAGE PATHS AND INTENSITY RATINGS.

THE TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN 5 KM NORTHWEST OF ELIE AT APPROXIMATELY 6:20 PM FRIDAY EVENING. IT TRACKED SOUTHEASTWARD, DISSIPATING 30 TO 40 MINUTES LATER ABOUT 1 KM SOUTH OF ELIE. THE PATH WAS ABOUT 6 KM LONG AND 300 METRES WIDE. TORNADO DAMAGE WAS RATED AT F4 IN THE TOWN OF ELIE WHERE SEVERAL HOUSES WERE COMPLETELY REMOVED FROM THEIR FOUNDATIONS."

Luckily most of the area under the F4 was open prairie farm land, so no one was really hurt. More June 2007 tornado video stories. :`)