October 2022 European tornado outbreak

{{Short description|European tornado outbreak in October 2022}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2022}}

{{Infobox storm

| name = October 2022 European tornado outbreak

| image = Beatrice 2022-10-22 1420Z.jpg

| alt =

| caption = Storm Beatrice, the storm which was responsible for the tornado outbreak

| type = Tornado outbreak

| maintype =

| formed = {{Start date|2022|10|23|df=y}}

| active =

| dissipated =

| exited land =

| lowest pressure =

| lowest temperature =

| tornadoes = 11

| fujitascale = EF3

| enhanced = yes

| international = no

| fujitascale ref = {{cite web |title=EF3 tornado in Bihucourt (Pas-de-Calais) on 23 October 2022 |url=https://www.keraunos.org/actualites/faits-marquants/2022/tornade-bihucourt-23-octobre-2022-pas-de-calais-hauts-de-france-outbreak-songeons-gaudechart-conty-bihucourt-hendecourt-arleux-masny-warlaing-thun-saint-amand-braffe-willaupuis-belgique |publisher=Keraunos |access-date=12 November 2022}}

| tornado duration =

| highest winds = {{convert|270|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}

| gusts =

| beaufort scale =

| hail =

| maximum rain =

| damages =

| power outages =

| fatalities = 0

| areas affected = England, France, Belgium

| partof = the tornado outbreaks of 2022

| season =

| notes =

}}

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, as well as globally in 2022, remaining on the ground for {{convert|206|km|mi|abbr=on}}. 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.{{cite tweet |author=Keraunos |author-link=Keraunos |user=KeraunosObs |number=1584598678517317632 |date=24 October 2022 |title=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 |trans-title=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. |language=fr |access-date=23 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221118122731/https://twitter.com/KeraunosObs/status/1584598678517317632 |archive-date=18 November 2022 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |title=Tornade de Bihucourt : au moins 85 km parcourus, un record ! |url=https://www.keraunos.org/actualites/fil-infos/2022/octobre/record-tornade-bihucourt-23-octobre-2022-distance-parcourue-nord-pas-de-calais-belgique |access-date=27 October 2022 |publisher=Keraunos}}{{cite web |title=Tornade du 23 octobre : plus de 145 km parcourus désormais |url=https://www.keraunos.org/actualites/fil-infos/2022/novembre/tornade-23-octobre-2022-bihucourt-conty-somme-nord-pas-de-calais |publisher=Keraunos |access-date=1 November 2022}}{{cite tweet |author=Keraunos |author-link=Keraunos |user=KeraunosObs |number=1585716865577254913 |date=27 October 2022 |title=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 |trans-title=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: |language=fr |access-date=23 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221117192111/https://twitter.com/KeraunosObs/status/1585716865577254913 |archive-date=17 November 2022 |url-status=live}}

Tornadoes

{{Tornado chart| FU = 0| F0 = 0| F1 = 7| F2 = 3| F3 = 1| F4 = 0| F5 = 0| Enhanced =no| Total = 11}}

= 23 October event =

class="wikitable" width="100%"

!colspan="7"|List of reported tornadoes - 23 October 2022

style="text-align: center;" |F#style="text-align: center;" | Locationstyle="text-align: center;" | County/Departmentstyle="text-align: center;" | Coord.style="text-align: center;" | Time (UTC)style="text-align: center;" | Path lengthstyle="text-align: center;" | Damage
colspan="7" align=center|England
bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat2}} | F2

|New Milton

|Hampshire

| rowspan="5" |Unknown

|15:45 UTC

| rowspan="5" |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.{{cite tweet |author=Sarah |author-link=Sarah |user=Sarah_Hants |number=1588590208815337472 |date=4 November 2022 |title=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 |language=en |access-date=23 February 2023}}{{Cite web|title=European Severe Weather Database|url=https://eswd.eu/cgi-bin/eswd.cgi|access-date=2022-10-27|website=eswd.eu}}

bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | F1

|Colden Common

|Hampshire

|16:15 UTC

|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.{{cite tweet |author=Sarah |author-link=Sarah |user=Sarah_Hants |number=1585289482865098755 |date=26 October 2022 |title=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 |language=en |access-date=23 February 2023}}

bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | F1

|Welling

|Greater London

| rowspan="3" |Unknown

|An F1/T2 tornado touched down in Welling, downing trees and inflicting roof tile damage to homes.{{cite tweet |author=Sarah |author-link=Sarah |user=Sarah_Hants |number=1585673372519768065 |date=27 October 2022 |title=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 |language=en |access-date=23 February 2023}}

bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | F1

|Up Somborne

|Hampshire

|An F1/T3 tornado struck Up Somborne, destroying greenhouses and causing damage to trees.{{cite tweet |author=Sarah |author-link=Sarah |user=Sarah_Hants |number=1586415741942865921 |date=29 October 2022 |title=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 |language=en |access-date=23 February 2023}}

bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | F1

|Hurstbourne Priors

|Hampshire

|A F1/T3 tornado struck a wooded area in Hurstbourne Priors, causing considerable damage to trees.{{cite tweet |author=Sarah |author-link=Sarah |user=Sarah_Hants |number=1588938077728571393 |date=5 November 2022 |title=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 |language=en |access-date=23 February 2023}}

colspan="7" align=center|France
bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat2}} | F2

|Beuzeville

|Eure

| rowspan="6" |Unknown

|14:03

|{{convert|47.5|km|mi|abbr=on}}

|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.

bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | F1

|Ferrières-en-Bray

|Seine-Maritime

|15:16

| rowspan="4" |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.

bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat2}} | F2

|Songeons

|Oise

|15:17

|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.

bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | F1

|Gaudechart

|Oise

|15:25

|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.

bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | F1

|Beaudéduit

|Oise

|15:33

|Tree, roof, and power line damage occurred in and around Beaudéduit.

bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat3}} | EF3

|Belleuse to Bihucourt to SE of Leuze-en-Hainaut (BE)

|Somme, Pas-de-Calais, Nord, Hainaut (BE)

|15:45

|{{convert|206|km|mi|abbr=on}}

|See section on this tornado

= Belleuse-Bihucourt, France/Leuze-en-Hainaut, Belgium =

{{Infobox tornado

|name= Belleuse-Bihucourt–Leuze-en-Hainaut tornado

|fujitascale=EF3

|fatalities=0}}

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 {{convert|206|km|mi|abbr=on}}. 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.{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_QkPpm6RJo&t=41s |title=One of the most violent tornadoes in France? |last=Asselin |first=Cristophe |date=January 13, 2023 |website=YouTube |publisher=Chroniques Chaotiques |access-date=March 22, 2023}}

See also

References

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