London Tornado of 2006

The London Tornado of 2006 was a significant UK tornado spawned from a squall line moving over the city on December 7, 2006 at approximately 11:00 am GMT. Its intensity is estimated to have been T4 on the TORRO scale, equating to F2 on the Fujita scale.

The tornado struck the Kensal Green area of North-West London, sweeping through several streets over the course of under a minute, injuring 6 people, and causing moderate or severe damage to at least 100 properties. It is believed to have been marginally stronger than the Birmingham Tornado of July 28, 2005.

Origin

On the morning of December 7, the UK was under the influence of a strong Atlantic low pressure system bringing unstable weather conditions to much of the UK, and the south in particular. At approximately 07:30 GMT, a small band of thunderstorms initialised over Cornwall moving east-northeast across the country. By approximately 10:00 am, the squall line had reached Salisbury, where a drop in humidity was recorded, which may have resulted in an increase of atmospheric pressure behind the squall, causing it to accelerate forward. This increased motion in combination with a change in wind direction ahead of the storm may have initialised the rotation of the mesocyclone in one of the now strong storm cells, resulting in the touchdown of the T4 tornado in Kensal Rise, London, at 11 am.cite web | title = Tornadoes in the British Isles | author = Paul Knightley | publisher = [http://www.meteogroup.co.uk/ MeteoGroup] | date = 2006-12-07 | url = http://www.meteogroup.co.uk/uk/home/weather/weather_news/news/archive/2006/december/article/tornadoes_in_the_british_isles.html?tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=242&cHash=bd62dc1b58 | accessdate = 2006-12-11 ]

Aftermath

The London Fire Brigade and structural surveyors assessed the damage and structural safety of affected properties. In the meantime, several hundred people were displaced from their homes until they had been declared safe for their occupants to return. Brent Council, speaking to a national newspaper, announced that none of the affected properties are likely to be demolished, though a total of 29 homes have been declared as unfit for habitation due to the damage caused by the tornado. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/6164855.stm Tornado homes escape demolition] BBC News] A local MP is attempting to set up a relief fund for residents not covered by insurance, Brent Council is in the process of rehousing 12 of the people affected. Scores of people remain effectively homeless.One man in his 50's suffered head injuries and 5 people where treated at the scene for shock.

ee also

*List of European tornadoes and tornado outbreaks
*Tornadoes of 2006

References

External links

* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/6217514.stm Six hurt as tornado hits London - BBC News]
* [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/07/AR2006120700781.html Severe tornado hits London, 6 injured - Washington Post]
* [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-2492024,00.html Not a mini-tornado, but a genuine twister - The Times]
* [http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/articlenews.aspx?storyid=2006-12-07T172252Z_01_L0782831_RTRUKOC_0_UK-BRITAIN-TORNADO.xml&type=domesticNews&WTmodLoc=UK-C3-More-3 Severe tornado hits London - Reuters]
* [http://www.guardian.co.uk/uklatest/story/0,,-6269908,00.html Tornado homes safe from demolition - The Guardian]