Significant Tornado Events - Global Edition

[TH2002]

While doing research on the 2011 Šiauliai, Lithuania tornado, I came across this footage. At first I thought this was the same tornado, but the upload date is July 3 (the Šiauliai event wasn't until July 27) and the title mentions this event occurred in the Šilalė District which places it to the southwest of the aforementioned July 27 tornado. This appears to be a different tornado (and likely a fairly strong one at that) which went undocumented by the ESWD and LHMS of Lithuania. And it seriously looks like the Lithuanian cousin of the 2019 Chugwater tornado:


Chugwater:

There's also more footage of this tornado that was at one point on a Lithuanian news website, but, as usual, the footage got nuked at some point. Also, I can't find it right now, but not too long ago I came across a video showing a tornado (or at least a large funnel cloud) in Germany in 2011 that also went undocumented by the ESWD.

 

[wdotornadoes]

Short recap of the most significant tornadoes that occured in Germany in 2023:

1. Febuary 1st - Lashorst, NW

This anomalous tornado originated from a small shower cell and briefly caused extreme damage in a forest area, where every tree was completely limbed or snapped. Branches were thrown hundreds of meters from the forest, an entire tree trunk was thrown over 60ft. Wind turbines with anemometers measured over 200 kilometers per hour in the area (at the outer edge of the path) and then carried out emergency shutdowns. The tornado then weakened somewhat, still causing considerable damage to trees and a farm along a over 5 km long path.



Source: Survey of the tornado v. https://www.tornadomap.org/post/vlashorst23/


2. September 21st - Nusbaum, RP

A well developed, line embedded supercell caused this tornado. In total, the tornado traveled over 13 kilometers, with significant damage occurring particularly in Nusbaum, where several roofs were torn off and numerous trees were snapped. Some (medium sized) trees were ripped from the ground and thrown entirely over considerable distances.




Source: Survey of the tornado v. https://www.tornadomap.org/post/vnusbaum23/


3. December 21st - Cologne, NW

In the southeast of the city of Cologne (> 1 million inhabitants), a strong tornado touched down on December 21st. It likely formed over the Rhine river and then caused severe damage in an up to over 400 yard wide path in the Poll district. It was located on the right edge of a line segment which occurred with the passage of european windstorm "Zoltan". A clear hook signature can be seen on radar images.



The tornado completely leveled a 22500 square foot warehouse and scattered debris across the adjacent road and railway:



Power lines were damaged and snapped on the railway line:



There was further damage in the industrial and residential areas. Pieces of debris cut through thick masonry walls, roofs were torn off and vehicles were damaged and overturned. The tornado was on the ground for at least 16 kilometers and passed through several more towns and villages after Cologne.



Source: Survey of the tornado v. https://www.tornadomap.org/post/vpoll23/

 

[TH2002]

Belarus has a number of official F3 tornadoes in the ESWD database, but in my opinion the 2009 Chachersk tornado is the only one where the F3 rating is at least somewhat justifiable based on what documentation is available. In fact, finding any sort of documentation for most of these events (particularly any of the pre-1998 tornadoes) is like trying to find a unicorn, so good luck...

Despite this, there's no shortage of footage of the Chachersk tornado itself. For much of its life it took on an appearance similar to the 6/1/2011 Springfield, MA tornado - a large funnel aloft with swirling debris at its base, along with some Fridley-esque vortex breakdown action.


The ESWD mentions this tornado had a path length of 8 km, but rough analysis of satellite imagery suggests the path length was probably closer to 11.2 km, or about 6.95 miles.

Damage imagery is unsurprisingly scarce. Thankfully, high-resolution satellite imagery from September 2009 is available, though by that point much work had been done to clear the damaged forest. But there are a few areas visible that don't seem to have had much work done at that point, and appear to show 100% blowdown. In addition, the widest area of tree damage is a little over 1/3 of a mile wide.

Also came across two damage photos. The first one appears to show a small masonry home with multiple walls down, though it could also be a farm building or something of that sort. The second photo appears to show some pretty intense tree damage, particularly in the background, again it's hard to tell due to the low resolution.

 

[TH2002]

Just came across this damage photo from the 1957 Robecco Pavese tornado and holy moly. I remember someone mentioned in an earlier post that this tornado managed to sweep away a few masonry homes, to which I was understandably skeptical, but low and behold:

Considering this tornado also debarked trees and hurled and mangled vehicles, I'd say it's probably the strongest candidate for a post-1950 European F5. I believe the Moravia tornado in 2021 had F5/EF5 winds but I don't think there was any genuine F5 structural damage with that one, and the 1967 Palluel tornado was violent but not F5 intensity imo.

 

[TH2002]

Does anybody know what in the world a "clear sky tornado" is? I've never heard of anything remotely like this, and I am honestly pretty skeptical if its even a real phenomenon. This posts claims it was equivalent to an F3. Not sure I buy that but interesting none the less.

Apologies for dredging this up, but I think this "clear sky tornado" is a hoax. A 25 km long, EF3 equivalent damage path would have shown up on satellite imagery in the vicinity of that town, but none appeared between December 2013 and December 2014. By contrast, the damage path of the Chachersk F3 is still plainly visible on satellite many years later. Also, that photo of tree damage they used is from Wales, not Belarus.

 

[buckeye05]

Apologies for dredging this up, but I think this "clear sky tornado" is a hoax. A 25 km long, EF3 equivalent damage path would have shown up on satellite imagery in the vicinity of that town, but none appeared between December 2013 and December 2014. By contrast, the damage path of the Chachersk F3 is still plainly visible on satellite many years later. Also, that photo of tree damage they used is from Wales, not Belarus.

No actually I’m glad you brought this up. This is one of the most perplexing meteorological “events” I’ve ever read up on, and I still wonder about it. I have to agree it’s a hoax, or at least a huge exaggeration. The description of how it formed makes absolutely no sense. Is such a thing even possible? I doubt it.

 

[TH2002]

No actually I’m glad you brought this up. This is one of the most perplexing meteorological “events” I’ve ever read up on, and I still wonder about it. I have to agree it’s a hoax, or at least a huge exaggeration. The description of how it formed makes absolutely no sense. Is such a thing even possible? I doubt it.

Regardless of whether or not the process by which this 'tornado' allegedly formed is even possible, the fact the poster took an image of tree damage from a completely unrelated storm and put it in their post w/o any kind of location disclaimer is enough to throw up a red flag for me. At the very least, the claim that this alleged event was equivalent to an EF3 is a load of crap.

 

[UK_EF4]

Apologies for dredging this up, but I think this "clear sky tornado" is a hoax. A 25 km long, EF3 equivalent damage path would have shown up on satellite imagery in the vicinity of that town, but none appeared between December 2013 and December 2014. By contrast, the damage path of the Chachersk F3 is still plainly visible on satellite many years later. Also, that photo of tree damage they used is from Wales, not Belarus.

I can tell you that the account that posted that is full of absolutel cr*p. All the forecasts they put out for the UK and also Europe are completely overhyped, and almost all done for attention. As I see people have already deduced, not worth paying attention to at all.

 

[TH2002]

I can tell you that the account that posted that is full of absolutel cr*p. All the forecasts they put out for the UK and also Europe are completely overhyped, and almost all done for attention. As I see people have already deduced, not worth paying attention to at all.

OK yeah that makes sense. Taking a brief look at their profile, they did at least accurately report Finland recording its coldest temperature since 2006 a day or two ago. I guess posting genuine reports here and there is how they reel people in and desensitize them to their other pseudoscientific nonsense. How social media is just wonderful...

 

[TH2002]

One of the most violent tornadoes to strike Poland is the 1931 Lublin tornado. While there is no evidence of F5 damage and the claim that this storm was "potentially an F5" is largely a baseless rumor, its official rating of F4 seems very much warranted. Many poorly built wooden structures were leveled or swept away, vehicles were tossed and destroyed, train cars were derailed and large trees were partially debarked. Perhaps most impressive, large industrial buildings with nearly 20-inch thick masonry walls were almost completely leveled, and metal roofing from these structures was found "a few kilometers farther downwind". Also, this tornado allegedly sucked a pond dry, which does sound extremely impressive but I have only seen passing mentions of this and no evidence to confirm it.

 

[buckeye05]

Prior to the Jersey IF3 in England last year, when was the last legit F3-equivalent tornado in the UK? Would it have been the 1931 Birmingham tornado? I know about the 1954 West London tornado, but based on the descriptions and damage photos I’ve seen, I’m not entirely sure it was as strong as it’s T7 rating suggests, unless there’s more damage information I don’t know about.

 

[UK_EF4]

Prior to the Jersey IF3 in England last year, when was the last legit F3-equivalent tornado in the UK? Would it have been the 1931 Birmingham tornado? I know about the 1954 West London tornado, but based on the descriptions and damage photos I’ve seen, I’m not entirely sure it was as strong as it’s T7 rating suggests, unless there’s more damage information I don’t know about.

To be completely honest, although Tim Marshall rated it F2, I do firmly believe it was an F3. Torro with the Met Office rated it T5/6 and the damage to brick homes was pretty impressive for UK standards - generally similar to some of the damage the Jersey tornado inflicted (and actually recieved a T6 rating for) - also similar caliber to some of the French IF3 tornado damage from Oct 2022:


I'd definitely agree that the 1954 tornado was not T7 strength whatsoever. The worst damage I have seen from that was a removed exterior wall which looked like more like it was a result of some sort of weakness. The other damage I remember seeing in photon was just removed corrugated iron sheets from a train station shelter and some moderately damaged roofs.

I think there was a T6/F3 tornado in Ireland in 1995 - but I cant find any info regarding damage, path etc.

There was also a F3 in Lincolnshire in October 1937, but I cant find any info.

 

[TH2002]

I'd definitely agree that the 1954 tornado was not T7 strength whatsoever. The worst damage I have seen from that was a removed exterior wall which looked like more like it was a result of some sort of weakness. The other damage I remember seeing in photon was just removed corrugated iron sheets from a train station shelter and some moderately damaged roofs.

You mean this house?

I have to agree with your assessment. While this is impressive at first glance, brick doesn't always equal better construction, and the fact the roof isn't even damaged tells me this tornado was probably not much stronger than a low-end F2. The 2005 Birmingham tornado was certainly the more intense of the two, and one could credibly argue for low-end F3 as you did.

Also, the 1995 Youghal tornado (the Ireland storm you mentioned) is certainly poorly documented, but from what I hear probably should have been rated F2. Found reports of caravans and mobile homes damaged or destroyed but nothing to suggest F3 intensity. The 1937 Lincolnshire tornado could have been an F3, but I could only find one very poor quality photo (too lazy to screenshot and upload it here, but it's in this PDF).

 

[buckeye05]

Just FYI the Birmingham tornado I was referring to was the 1931 one. There are videos of the damage on YouTube. But yeah I agree the 2005 one could have been given a higher rating.

 

[TH2002]

Just FYI the Birmingham tornado I was referring to was the 1931 one. There are videos of the damage on YouTube. But yeah I agree the 2005 one could have been given a higher rating.

From what I've seen, upper floor exterior wall loss was actually more substantial in the 2005 event compared to 1931. The 1931 tornado looks like it was a mid-range F2 to me, but there could be something I missed of course. TBH, for the 2005 tornado I'd probably side with a low-end F3 rating considering one home lost all of its upper floor exterior walls:

 

[TH2002]

@pohnpei Felt this was more appropriate to ask on this thread, but is there any tornado in China that you consider to be a genuine EF5 candidate? I've seen it thrown around that one of the 2017 Chifeng tornadoes actually managed to sweep away sturdy masonry homes, but I've never seen any damage photos from that tornado. Is it true?

 

[pohnpei]

@pohnpei Felt this was more appropriate to ask on this thread, but is there any tornado in China that you consider to be a genuine EF5 candidate? I've seen it thrown around that one of the 2017 Chifeng tornadoes actually managed to sweep away sturdy masonry homes, but I've never seen any damage photos from that tornado. Is it true?

I think it really depends on what's the standard of EF5 level standard. I sometimes not entirely sure what types of construction damage can be called EF5 level in China. Generally, IF scale could fits more than EF scale for typical rural buildings in China.
Contextually speaking, Funing still stands out among all candidates to me.

The damage in Beichen was of the most impressive with mangled vehicles, completely debarked trees, violent container damage and debris granulation. All meet with high end tornado feature in US.


1969 Tianjin tornado was one of the most mentioned one of this topic. Though pic evidence may not fully support, the extreme high death rate and some descriptions do scream a high end event.

Another potential candidate would be 1987 Keshan tornado happened on the same day of Edmonton tornado in Canada which did some impressive contextual damage like tossing combines.

One that can not be ignore was 2005 Chaoyang tornado. It's a very slow moving tornado with some people called it a Jarrell esuqe event in China. The ground scouring and tree damage was impressive.



For Chifeng tornado 2017, I know it swept away some houses, but perhaps not really that sturdy house. The damage wasn't worse than Baochang tornado 2021 tbh. It's a Pilger event in China but moving at Jarrell speed and occurred in mountainous area.Two of EF4 tornados were from same supercell and simultaneously lived which was a very rare case. All three was them moved only around 1 mile for its life time which could be some of the shortest path ever for a violent tornado.

 

[TH2002]

I think it really depends on what's the standard of EF5 level standard. I sometimes not entirely sure what types of construction damage can be called EF5 level in China. Generally, IF scale could fits more than EF scale for typical rural buildings in China.
Contextually speaking, Funing still stands out among all candidates to me.
View attachment 23534View attachment 23535
The damage in Beichen was of the most impressive with mangled vehicles, completely debarked trees, violent container damage and debris granulation. All meet with high end tornado feature in US.
View attachment 23536View attachment 23537View attachment 23538
1969 Tianjin tornado was one of the most mentioned one of this topic. Though pic evidence may not fully support, the extreme high death rate and some descriptions do scream a high end event.
View attachment 23542
Another potential candidate would be 1987 Keshan tornado happened on the same day of Edmonton tornado in Canada which did some impressive contextual damage like tossing combines.
View attachment 23539View attachment 23540
One that can not be ignore was 2005 Chaoyang tornado. It's a very slow moving tornado with some people called it a Jarrell esuqe event in China. The ground scouring and tree damage was impressive.



For Chifeng tornado 2017, I know it swept away some houses, but perhaps not really that sturdy house. The damage wasn't worse than Baochang tornado 2021 tbh. It's a Pilger event in China but moving at Jarrell speed and occurred in mountainous area.Two of EF4 tornados were from same supercell and simultaneously lived which was a very rare case. All three was them moved only around 1 mile for its life time which could be some of the shortest path ever for a violent tornado.
View attachment 23541

Of all the storms you discussed I'd say Chaoyang 2005 and Funing 2016 are the strongest EF5 candidates. Tianjin was definitely violent but I don't think there's enough photographic evidence to confirm F5 damage, not to mention construction standards in China back then may have been very poor. Keshan 1987 was also definitely violent, but I'd like to see what the farm equipment (especially the combines) looked like beforehand, and I don't really think heavy farm equipment being tossed is enough for an F5 rating by itself (except maybe in verifiably extreme cases like Camp Crook 2018). In a lot of the Chaoyang and Funing photos, I can't tell how much of the mud is true scouring, though there definitely is some. Funing in particular could have been a solid EF5 if any well-built masonry homes were actually swept clean - as of now though, the only case of a tornado actually sweeping away a sturdy masonry home I can confirm is the 1957 Robecco Pavese, Italy tornado. Even the 2021 Moravia tornado didn't manage to even partially slab any homes despite the contextual damage easily being high-end F4+.

 

[pohnpei]

Of all the storms you discussed I'd say Chaoyang 2005 and Funing 2016 are the strongest EF5 candidates. Tianjin was definitely violent but I don't think there's enough photographic evidence to confirm F5 damage, not to mention construction standards in China back then may have been very poor. Keshan 1987 was also definitely violent, but I'd like to see what the farm equipment (especially the combines) looked like beforehand, and I don't really think heavy farm equipment being tossed is enough for an F5 rating by itself (except maybe in verifiably extreme cases like Camp Crook 2018). In a lot of the Chaoyang and Funing photos, I can't tell how much of the mud is true scouring, though there definitely is some. Funing in particular could have been a solid EF5 if any well-built masonry homes were actually swept clean - as of now though, the only case of a tornado actually sweeping away a sturdy masonry home I can confirm is the 1957 Robecco Pavese, Italy tornado. Even the 2021 Moravia tornado didn't manage to even partially slab any homes despite the contextual damage easily being high-end F4+.

DId San Justo managed to level some sturdy masonry house?

Baochang tornado 2016 leveled some houses with very thick wall

But the construction details were lacking for most of them so I would rely more on contextual damage most time. Experts here seems unsure as well like they sometimes think it can collapse under heavy rains. Funing tornado leveled many houses but I am not sure if any one of them was very sturdy

Also I think the most"scouring" in both cases were from already dirty field rather than true grass scouring which is extremely rare.
Speaking contextual damage, I would say only San justo was more impressive than Funing outside of North Amercia for tornados with enough picture evidence

 

[TH2002]

DId San Justo managed to level some sturdy masonry house?
View attachment 23544

Yes, not only that but San Justo actually managed to slab some of them. My mistake.

One of the homes Robecco Pavese swept away is visible in one of my posts closer to the top of this page. Also, in some of @MNTornadoGuy's posts, that tornado also mangled vehicles beyond recognition and debarked trees.