Social media fueling how intense summer storms feel this season

WINNIPEG — Summer storms aren’t new, but how intense they’re feeling this season has people questioning if it’s a rougher season this year.

Natalie Hazel with Environment Canada said Manitoba knows to expect a few summer storms running as late as the end of September at times. Even 8-12 tornadoes.

But, when it comes to this season, she said it might feel like there are more storms, but that’s just not the case so far.

“If we include the ones from yesterday, we’re at about five or six. So, for beginning of August this is actually kind of right on schedule,” said Hazel.

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READ MORE: 2 tornadoes touch down in southern Manitoba

Justin Hobson and Chris Stammers have been storm chasing for a long time. Both agreed that while it may be a pretty intense season of storms, and some incredible lightning shows in the city, social media is actually what might be fueling the feeling that it’s a bigger storm season this time around.

“I don’t know that it’s been anymore busy this year. I think it’s just the new trend, the way things are going, so easy to do and just everyone has a smart phone now,” said Stammers.

“All of our smartphones all have video capacity and photo capacity. You take a photo, you write a little text or blurb to go with it and you press send. And it’s out for the world to see,” said Hazel.

But, with the popularity of using social media to share your photos and videos on storms, Environment Canada said you can also send them to storm@ec.gc.ca. Explaining that it’s never too late to do so.