Tornadoes to Europe
Dozens of tornadoes form on the plains of the interior of the United States each year, some of them reaching the maximum F5 category. However, in some areas of the European continent, not much less than the quantity and intensity of American tornadoes, not insignificant tornado phenomena are recorded. The tornado that struck southern Poland caused three deaths and dozens of houses were destroyed, while in the northern French town of Hautmont, an F3 caused three deaths, dozens of injuries and many houses completely destroyed by the winds hurricanes that reached 330 km/h. Tornadoes have also been recorded in England, Holland, Sweden, Austria and other European countries. In Germany, during the 20th century, 404 tornadoes have been recorded, highlighting the decade of the 50s, with 83, and the decade of the 90s, with 78. Almost all of them are recorded between June and September, with July as the month with the most tornadoes . 90% of them are formed between 3 and 8 in the afternoon, with the greatest frequency between 5 and 6 in the afternoon.
Meteorological factors in Europe
Between the Pyrenees and the Alps, a flow of moist and warm air from the Mediterranean can be established. When a cold front from the Atlantic collides with the warm mass, huge storms with possible hail and tornadoes can form, preferably in the plains of northern France or western Germany. This combination of weather factors can lead to impressive and terrifying phenomena, such as the two tornadoes recorded in Poland and the Czech Republic.
The Tornado of Badalona
On June 14, 1892, Badalona experienced a shocking episode when a tornado wreaked havoc on the town. With an approximate diameter of 30 to 60 meters, this tornado swept through part of the city in just three minutes, killing 3 people and leaving dozens injured. Tornadoes in the Maresme are not an unusual phenomenon and can affect the coastline, as happened on November 20, 2002 in Masnou, causing damage to greenhouses and urban furniture.
Weather forecast
Alfred Rodríguez Picó and Xavi Freixes will once again do the weather forecast together at premium.cat next Thursday, May 30. Do not miss it!
