The Facts
Violent thunderstorms ravaged parts of Quebec and Ontario on Sat., leaving at least six dead and hundreds of thousands without power. Most fatalities were reportedly the result of people being hit by falling trees.
Environment Canada recorded wind speeds of up to 132 km/h in Ontario and up to 120 km/h in Toronto and Ottawa and issued emergency alerts across television, radio, and mobile devices to warn citizens of the weather's potential danger.
The Spin
Narrative A
Although weather events of this severity are semi-regular, Saturday's storm hit unusually far northeast and outside of the July-August window in which such storms are commonly seen. These atypical characteristics could reflect the effects of climate change, as warm domes of high pressure are expanding north under global warming.
Narrative B
It's easy to dismiss any extreme weather event as a consequence of climate change, but in reality, they're usually influenced by a myriad of factors that have nothing to do with it. More research is needed before we can establish any direct causal link between the two.