More photos of that crazy Fort Simpson storm

The first thing everyone did was look at the sky and stop in their tracks. The second thing they did was take a photo of it.

Images from Monday evening’s storm over Fort Simpson continued to roll in to Cabin Radio on Tuesday from residents who couldn’t help but be awed by it.

While nobody immediately reported a tornado forming, one resident described “a couple of fluffy tornado-like moments” as what appeared to be embryonic funnel clouds formed and then broke apart.

Environment Canada had warned of a severe storm in the area, even stating in a late Monday advisory: “Remember, severe thunderstorms can produce tornadoes.”

Isolated incidents of minor wind damage were reported.

Tornadoes are extremely rare in the Northwest Territories but not completely unheard-of.

Forecasters said the storm could bring “very strong wind gusts, up to toonie-size hail and heavy rain” to parts of the Dehcho.

Just before 9pm, residents report rain clattering into the sides of houses in Fort Simpson. The temperature dropped eight degrees in the space of an hour according to weather records kept at the village airport.

Floatplanes moored on the Mackenzie River in Fort Simpson had to be physically held down by residents as wind ripped through the village.

“I am a pilot with Simpson Air and we were all hands on deck for about an hour last night as the storm hit, keeping our planes safe in the swells on the Mackenzie,” wrote Lena Aronyk on Tuesday morning.

The storm dissipated overnight, though there’s a chance of weaker storms developing over the NWT-Alberta border later on Tuesday.