October 2022 European tornado outbreak

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October 2022 European tornado outbreak
Storm Beatrice, the storm which was responsible for the tornado outbreak
TypeTornado outbreak
Formed23 October 2022 (2022-10-23)
Highest winds
  • 270 km/h (170 mph)
Tornadoes
confirmed
11
Max. rating1EF3 tornado[1]
Fatalities0
Areas affectedEngland, France, Belgium

1Most severe tornado damage; see Enhanced Fujita scale

On 23 October 2022, Storm Beatrice spawned multiple severe thunderstorms across parts of Europe, including tornadic supercells in parts of France and embedded circulations in the mesoscale convective system that impacted parts of England. Eleven tornadoes were confirmed as a result of the outbreak, some of which were strong and caused major damage. 4 F1 tornadoes and 1 F2 tornado struck Hampshire and Greater London. The most significant tornadoes of the outbreak occurred in France, including two F2 tornadoes, and a very long-tracked EF3/F3/IF3/T6 tornado that caused major damage in multiple towns, and became the longest-tracked tornado in the history of France, remaining on the ground for 206 km (128 mi). The most severe damage from the F3 tornado occurred in Bihucourt, where numerous brick homes and other buildings had roofs torn off and exterior walls collapsed. The Bihucourt tornado eventually crossed into Belgium before dissipating, and was the strongest tornado in France since an F3 tornado caused significant damage near Étrochey on 19 June 2013. One of the F2 tornadoes struck Beuzeville while the other impacted Songeons, with significant damage occurring in both towns. In addition to the tornadoes, numerous reports of flooding, hail, and damaging straight-line winds were also received. Despite the severity of the damage, no fatalities occurred as a result of the tornadoes, though a few injuries were reported.[2][3][4][5][6]

Tornadoes[edit]

Confirmed tornadoes by Fujita rating
FU F0 F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 Total
0 0 7 3 1 0 0 11

23 October event[edit]

List of reported tornadoes - 23 October 2022
F# Location County/Department Coord. Time (UTC) Path length Damage
England
F2 New Milton Hampshire unknown 15:45 UTC unknown A large tornadic waterspout came ashore and moved through New Milton and other areas outside of town, causing damage to structures and cars. Power lines were downed, homes and outbuilding structures had roofing blown off, greenhouses were damaged, and sheds and trampolines were tossed. Several large hardwood tree trunks were snapped in a wooded area, for which it received a low-end F2/T4 rating.[7][6]
F1 Colden Common Hampshire unknown 16:15 UTC unknown A tornado struck a car park at Marwell Zoo and surrounding areas, downing trees and tree limbs, some of which brought down power lines and signs. Light poles and barns were damaged, and outbuildings were destroyed. This tornado received a rating of F1/T2.[6][8]
F1 Welling Greater London unknown unknown unknown An F1/T2 tornado touched down in Welling, downing trees and inflicting roof tile damage to homes.[9]
F1 Up Somebourne Hampshire unknown unknown unknown An F1/T3 tornado struck Up Sombourne, destroying greenhouses and causing damage to trees.[10]
F1 Hurstbourne Priors Hampshire unknown unknown unknown A F1/T3 tornado struck a wooded area in Hurstbourne Priors, causing considerable damage to trees.[11]
France
F2 Beuzeville Eure unknown 14:03 47.5 km (29.5 mi) A strong tornado caused significant damage in and around Beuzeville, where homes and other structures were damaged, some had their roofs torn off, and one house was partially destroyed. Cars were moved and damaged, semi-trucks were flipped and piled atop one another, and industrial buildings were damaged as well. Outbuildings were damaged or destroyed, and many trees were downed.[6]
F1 Ferrières-en-Bray Seine-Maritime unknown 15:16 unknown Homes and other structures in the area sustained roof damage, and a cider house had its roof uplifted. Trees, tree branches, and power lines were downed as well.[6]
F2 Songeons Oise unknown 15:17 unknown Extensive damage occurred in Songeons, where homes and businesses had large sections of roofing torn off, industrial buildings were heavily damaged, and some large outbuilding structures were destroyed. Trees and signs were knocked down as well, and a child was injured by a falling gate.[6]
F1 Gaudechart Oise unknown 15:25 unknown This tornado caused high-end F1 damage in Gaudechart, where the Immaculée Conception church and school sustained extensive roof and exterior wall damage. Sheds were damaged or destroyed, vehicles and windows were damaged, and homes sustained roof damage. Trees and outbuidings were also damaged, and a goat was killed by flying debris.[6]
F1 Beaudéduit Oise unknown 15:33 unknown Tree, roof, and power line damage occurred in and around Beaudéduit.[6]
EF3[1] Belleuse to Bihucourt to SE of Leuze-en-Hainaut (BE) Somme, Pas-de-Calais, Nord, Hainaut (BE) unknown 15:45 206 km (128 mi) See section on this tornado[1]

Belleuse-Bihucourt, France/Leuze-en-Hainaut, Belgium[edit]

Belleuse-Bihucourt–Leuze-en-Hainaut tornado
EF3 tornado
Max. rating1EF3 tornado
Fatalities0
1Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita scale

An intense, destructive, and very long-tracked EF3/F3/IF3/T6 tornado caused major damage in multiple localities in France, before crossing into Belgium and causing additional damage there before dissipating. After touching down, it first struck the small community of Belleuse, where trees were downed and roughly a dozen buildings were damaged. The tornado then impacted Conty, where many homes and masonry buildings were unroofed, brick garden walls were toppled, and streets were left covered in debris. 80 homes were damaged in Conty, and 10 were left uninhabitable, while a school, gymnasium, post office, and a sawmill were damaged as well. It then moved northeastward through rural areas outside of Amiens and Albert, damaging crops, trees, and wind turbines. The tornado then rapidly strengthened, reaching its peak intensity as it struck Bihucourt. Numerous well-built brick homes and other buildings in town were severely damaged and had their roofs torn off, several sustained total collapse of multiple exterior walls, and a few houses sustained complete destruction of their top floors. Large trees were snapped and debranched, cars were tossed, a church was badly damaged, and debris was scattered throughout Bihucourt, where 90 homes were damaged, 48 of which were left uninhabitable. Metal-framed outbuildings were destroyed outside of town, and large round hay bales were thrown. It then weakened somewhat but still caused extensive damage as it moved through Hendecourt-lès-Cagnicourt, where trees were downed and 50 homes and farms were damaged in and around town, with some structures sustaining severe damage. Greenhouses and large outbuildings were damaged or destroyed, and projectiles were driven into the exteriors of some buildings. Continuing to the northeast, the tornado moved through Arleux and inflicted significant damage to trees and the roofs of multiple homes. It then downed many trees as it passed near Erchin before striking Masny, where 50 homes were damaged, some significantly. 10 administrative buildings were also damaged in town, along with a school and two sports halls. Continuing through Warlaing, the tornado snapped and uprooted trees, and inflicted major roof damage to buildings in town before crossing into Belgium. There, it inflicted considerable roof and window damage to homes and other buildings in the small villages of Braffe and Willaupuis. A small brick chapel near Willapuis was largely destroyed, and trees and farms near both communities were also damaged. The tornado eventually dissipated near Leuze-en-Hainaut in the small community of Blicquy. This was the longest-tracked tornado in the history of France, with its total path length measured at 206 km (128 mi). It remained on the ground for two and a half hours. No fatalities occurred as a result of the tornado, though a few minor injuries were reported.[1][6][12]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d "EF3 tornado in Bihucourt (Pas-de-Calais) on 23 October 2022". Keraunos. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
  2. ^ Keraunos [@KeraunosObs] (24 October 2022). "Après enquête de terrain, la #tornade de #Bihucourt est classée en catégorie EF3, soit des vents max de 220 à 270 km/h. Le tourbillon a tracé un sillon de dommages large de 200m, sur une trajectoire d'au moins 25 km sur sa seule portion #PasdeCalais. Les enquêtes se poursuivent. https://t.co/J7i2lqnKak" [After field investigation, the #Bihucourt #tornado is classified in the EF3 category, i.e. maximum winds of 220 to 270 km / h. The whirlwind has traced a furrow of damage 200m wide, on a trajectory of at least 25 km on its #PasdeCalais portion alone. Investigations are continuing.] (Tweet) (in French). Archived from the original on 18 November 2022. Retrieved 23 February 2023 – via Twitter.
  3. ^ "Tornade de Bihucourt : au moins 85 km parcourus, un record !". Keraunos. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  4. ^ "Tornade du 23 octobre : plus de 145 km parcourus désormais". Keraunos. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
  5. ^ Keraunos [@KeraunosObs] (27 October 2022). "Après enquête de terrain, il apparaît que la #tornade EF3 de #Bihucourt a parcouru au moins 85 km entre 🇫🇷et 🇧🇪 le 23/10. Il s'agit d'un nouveau record national, dépassant les 81 km de la tornade de Saint-Claude en août 1890 : https://t.co/13XluSSFdC https://t.co/Mow1jPFsym" [After field investigation, it appears that the #Bihucourt #EF3 tornado traveled at least 85 km between 🇫🇷 and 🇧🇪 on 10/23. This is a new national record, exceeding the 81 km of the Saint-Claude tornado in August 1890:] (Tweet) (in French). Archived from the original on 17 November 2022. Retrieved 23 February 2023 – via Twitter.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i "European Severe Weather Database". eswd.eu. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  7. ^ Sarah [@Sarah_Hants] (4 November 2022). "A very productive @TorroUK site investigation with my colleague today. Barton on Sea to the New Forest. Some photos need permission to use in public or are on the camera. But this was a clear T4 tornado with path length of around 10-11km before dark scuppered us. https://t.co/G00BTHiHfw" (Tweet). Retrieved 23 February 2023 – via Twitter.
  8. ^ Sarah [@Sarah_Hants] (26 October 2022). "A lot of data to process, but initial estimates are of a T2/T3 tornado and a provisional damage path of 3.5km. These may be revised when analysed further and a return visit may be made. All photos copyright TORRO. https://t.co/43PRLXAWJu" (Tweet). Retrieved 23 February 2023 – via Twitter.
  9. ^ Sarah [@Sarah_Hants] (27 October 2022). "Good @TorroUK visit to Welling today to confirm a T2 tornado of path length circa 2km with @phe99phe99 who has done an awesome job this week plotting and photgraphing damage. Some nasty roof damage for residents to contend with. https://t.co/sxLPKqtPrZ" (Tweet). Retrieved 23 February 2023 – via Twitter.
  10. ^ Sarah [@Sarah_Hants] (29 October 2022). "Today, on the trail of the Up Sombourne (now confirmed) tornado on behalf of @TorroUK Will need to return to this one for track length, sunset came too quickly. Notable for copper beech tree top which travelled 75m and debris that flew hundreds of meters. https://t.co/2ZR1yvh8B1" (Tweet). Retrieved 23 February 2023 – via Twitter.
  11. ^ Sarah [@Sarah_Hants] (5 November 2022). "A very wet @TorroUK site investigation today, looking at the Hurstbourne Priors report. Rather more substantial damage than I'd anticipated after viewing a video we had been sent. T3 for a short interval. https://t.co/wwpP4qwRik" (Tweet). Retrieved 23 February 2023 – via Twitter.
  12. ^ Asselin, Cristophe (13 January 2023). "One of the most violent tornadoes in France?". YouTube. Chroniques Chaotiques. Retrieved 22 March 2023.

External links[edit]