Photos of close shave with a tornado

[Southern Storm]

Hi all, I would like to share some photos taken by my parents in law.

 

Their village (Vix, France) took a glancing blow from a tornado, luckily most of the damage was superficial and nobody was injured, but two other villages 1km away where't so lucky!

 

here is the local new story (google Translate will help if you're not able to reed french) but the photos speak volumes!

http://www.bienpublic.com/haute-cote-d-or/2013/06/21/un-paysage-de-desolation-dans-les-rues-d-etrochey-et-montliot#jimage=CF59E8A0-EDF7-4807-9BB4-2FD4571BA251

and

http://www.bienpublic.com/haute-cote-d-or/2013/06/20/le-reveil-de-la-haute-cote-d-or-apres-la-tornade#jimage=3A01A4C2-B573-4DC8-A83F-C181856E1D99

 

 

here are a few taken by parents in law

 

 

thoughts go out to the people affected. 

[mike Meehan]

It does happen - I recall reading about a tornado in the area of Toulouse about a year ago.

[Harry]

It does happen - I recall reading about a tornado in the area of Toulouse about a year ago.

 

Supercells are by no means uncommon in France, less so than the US but exceedingly more so than the UK.

 

A colleague of mine was holidaying in the Dordogne a few years back and they were hit (based on his accounts) by something very much resembling a supercell - very strong winds, the car was written off by golf ball hail (and larger) and the lightning the most spectacular he'd ever witnessed.

 

Tornados and large hail in France...not surprising to be honest. I would go as far as to say that I'm surprised tornadoes of EF2/3 category aren't more common in France.

[Evening thunder]

I remember a few years back there being an F4 (I think) on the news that destroyed a town or village? think it was in Northern France. I seem to remember this being from a system/front coming off the Atlantic too though a severe threat was recognised with ESTOFEX issuing a forecast (can't remember what level but I think it might have been level 2).

 

Edit: I think I've found it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/August_2008_European_tornado_outbreak#Hautmont_tornado

It was the town of Hautmont which was heardest hit (amongst others), near the Belgium boarder. Looking at the archive charts for the 3rd and 4th August (00z 4th closest to 'late on the 3rd'), it's not one I'd immediately think 'severe tornadic storm outbreak:

http://www.wetterzentrale.de/archive/ra/2008/Rrea00120080804.gif