30 Wild Weather Pictures From Across Canada
Updated: Oct. 01, 2021
Mother Nature can often be beautiful, but she can also be windy, stormy and wet. From tornadoes to blizzards, check out these wild weather pictures snapped by Our Canada readers.
Keep your eyes on the skies…
We just had to share this submission from Cat Taylor of Calgary in our roundup of incredible weather pictures. Cat writes, “At first glimpse, the colour seems ‘off’ in this picture, taken west of Red Deer, Alberta, but that is truly the surreal light that pervades when this kind of storm is rolling in. Frightening and awesome at the same time!”
City under siege
Although Ontario’s “Tornado Alley” centres on the southwest region of the province, the bulk of the GTA still falls in its path. Richard Bourdeau snapped this sinister shot from a high-rise in North York. “I was sitting on the balcony when I sighted the funnel cloud. Fortunately, I had my camera handy and a few seconds to take some shots. The tornado did not touch down, to my knowledge, and lifted up a few seconds after I shot.”
Take a look back at the worst natural disasters in Canadian history.
Simply chilling
“A foggy winter morning with the landscape covered in hoar frost,” writes Cheryl Goff of Oshawa, Ontario. “What will the fog reveal in the distance as it burns off?”
Hold on tight!
You can almost feel the force of the wind in Mike Lane’s dynamic shot of a boarder braving the waves at Chesterman Beach, B.C.
You’ll find more of Mike’s incredible images in this gallery of candid photography.
The calm before the storm
Looks like these simmering clouds are about to boil over! Sandy Sinclair snapped this striking photo while travelling west between Oakville and Newton, Manitoba.
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Winter strikes back
There’s something poetic about Robbie Gorr’s pic of a delicate rose sagging under the weight of an unwelcome snowfall. “The seasons aren’t always predictable and sometimes summer meets winter after some unexpected weather,” Robbie writes. Let’s hope that beautiful blossom was resilient enough to bounce back afterwards.
Don’t miss this gorgeous gallery of Canadian garden pictures.
An angler’s sky
“When the fishing is good, weather doesn’t matter,” writes Cat Taylor, who took this fantastic photo near Rocky Mountain House, Alberta. “These youngsters didn’t pay any attention at all to the incoming storm!”
Pier pressure
That poor shoreline is certainly taking a battering! Karen Allin of Mississauga captured this powerful storm surge on Lake Ontario.
Read up on the wettest place in Canada.
Fire in the sky
As photographer Grace Matthies puts it so beautifully, this is the “energy inside the storm.” The contrast between the fiery glow and the sinister dark clouds is absolutely striking. Thanks for sharing, Grace!
Gimme shelter
Photographer Rhonda Beirnes of Listowel, Ontario, reflects on this vacation snap. “We got caught in this thunderstorm in Quebec City a few years ago and had to take shelter in Chateau Frontenac… There are worse places to wait out a storm!”
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The tide is high
When Red Deer, Alberta, flooded back in 2013, Deb Sandau captured this shot of a partially-submerged bike path. Hopefully the waters receded soon afterward, or some unsuspecting cyclists were in for a rather wet surprise…
Early warning
That old expression “you could see it coming from a mile away” certainly applies to the Prairies! This incredible image from Coaldale, Alberta’s Karen Carley is truly frame-worthy.
Any port in a storm
“When a storm comes up on Lake Erie while fishing you do your best to try and get to shore—fast,” writes Brantford, Ontario’s Marianne Detmar. “Thankfully made it to the dock at the Port Dover marina just in time.”
Buried
Our backs ache just looking at this picture… Imagine the shoveling in store for poor Norma Keith of Baltimore, Ontario, after this blizzard. We love the bright yellow sunflower decor standing out in the sea of white—a cheery reminder that warmer weather is always on the way!
This gorgeous gallery of sunflower photography will brighten your day.
Dramatic backdrop
“These menacing clouds were snapped near Carman, Manitoba,” writes Sandy Sinclair of Portage La Prairie. “It almost looks like a funnel cloud is forming!” We love how the landscape stands in stark silhouette against those angry yellows and blues… Striking shot, Sandy—thanks for sharing.
A real pea-souper
As the kids might say, this picture is “a mood”—a fall mood, in particular! Thanks to Deb Sandau for sharing this atmospheric shot of a misty autumn morning.
Mountains in the sky
Sometimes, with a bit of imagination, the clouds can blur the distinction between land and sky. In Paula Brown’s incredible capture, even Ottawa can (temporarily, at least!) transform into the Rockies.
Check out these awe-inspiring photos of the (real!) Canadian Rockies.
Ominous
Speaking of optical illusions, do you see the creepy face in the clouds that prompted Janet Jessop to snap this pic? Spooky!
Here are more hauntingly beautiful photos from across Canada.
A flurry of activity
“This looked like an avalanche, but was just snow flurries,” says David Lee, who took this jaw-dropping shot of the Eastern Hillsides in Chilliwack, B.C. Between the bright blue sky, streaks of cloud and that little flash of rainbow, this single image showcases so many sides of Mother Nature!
Here are more beautiful rainbow pictures from across Canada.
Ice weather we’re having
Karen Allin’s photo crystallizes the aftermath of extreme weather.
Take shelter
Photographer Sharon Peters of Three Hills, Alberta, writes: “I took this picture in front of my house. The tornado looked like it was coming down our street but it was actually about three kilometres outside of town.”
Read up on the worst tornado in Canadian history.
Commuter life
This bone-chilling action shot was captured by Armando Rafael in Le Plateau-Mont-Royal, Montreal.
Here’s what one man wishes he’d known before moving to Montreal.
Living skies
“Land of Living Skies” might be Saskatchewan’s moniker, but Grace Matthies’ photo, taken in southern Alberta, stakes a claim.
Winter wonderland
Photographer Linda Sweeney found inspiration for our “Wild Weather” Theme Pic Challenge in her hometown of Miramichi, New Brunswick.
Here are more fantastic photos that showcase the beauty of the Canadian winter.
Shades of grey
Eileen MacDonald’s atmospheric shot captures the stormy skies over the Northumberland Strait in Cape Traverse, P.E.I.
Planning your dream trip through Atlantic Canada? Here are 10 essential east coast experiences.
Greenland glaciers
Alan Cheng of Scarborough, Ontario, writes: “Blocks of ice broke off from Greenland and reached this small village near the town of Bonavista, Newfoundland.” Incredible story—and photo!
Find out what it was like on the coldest day in Canadian history.
Larger than life
This gigantic cloud hanging over the municipality of Strathroy-Caradoc in Ontario was calling out for a photograph! Thanks to Wendy Wever for sharing.
Check out the 10 best day trips from Toronto.
Winter’s fury
The waterfront in Cobourg, Ontario, is taking a pounding in this winter storm, snapped by Norma Keith.
Find out why Cobourg is a popular filming location for shows like Murdoch Mysteries.
Ray of light
It can’t always be sunny on Georgian Bay, but even then, it’s breathtaking. Thanks to Marnie Bonnett of Toronto for sharing this inspiring picture.
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After the storm
Sometimes after a violent storm, we’re rewarded with a reminder of the beauty of nature. That’s exactly what Ottawa’s Paula Brown captured with this spectacular sunset shot.
Here are more stunning sunset pictures that will take your breath away.
