Popular spot in southern France hit by rare, damaging tornado
France sees tornadoes every year, but a mature, damaging supercell twister that occurred on Monday is out of the ordinary. Several homes were reported to have been damaged
When word comes out about a destructive tornado, many would immediately look to a location somewhere in North America.
But on Monday, southern France was the site of a damaging tornado, a rare phenomenon for the region--captured in videos and photos by onlookers, and posted to social media.
While no injuries have been reported, several homes incurred damage and thousands are without power, according to local media accounts.
As well, multiple roads were reportedly closed due to fallen trees and to allow for easier access for emergency services.
Early reports and social media videos put the tornado location south of Carcassonne, France, in the Limoux-Pomas-Couffoulens corridor, during late-Monday afternoon.
Significant damage to homes was reported, but results of a formal damage survey and intensity rating is still to be released.
The twister was created by a rotating supercell ahead of a broad complex of thunderstorms crossing Occitanie.
While France records tornadoes every year, a mature, damaging supercell tornado of this intensity is rare.
Environment was primed for tornado
French severe weather observatory, Keraunos, highlighted a major severe thunderstorm threat with large hail, damaging winds, and tornadoes.
At one point, 18 departments were placed under orange thunderstorm alerts. The broad environment had an Atlantic low approaching from the west, while very warm, moist Mediterranean air surged northward, creating instability and wind shear across southern France.
Temperatures in the region were near 27 C, with a dew point of 21 C, highlighting the available moisture needed to produce a tornado.
How rare is a strong France tornado?
According to data compiled by Keraunos, only 17 twisters have reached EF-4 or EF-5 intensity.
Of those, only two tornadoes of EF-5 strength have happened in France--in 1845 and 1967.
The last EF-4 tornado was the 2008 Haumont twister, the modern benchmark of violent whirlwinds in the country.
On Aug. 3, 2008, a tornado tracked approximately 20 kilometres through Val de Sambre in northern France. Three people were killed, and 18 were seriously injured.
Aude has already had a violent tornado, an EF-4 documented on Aug. 12, 1887 in La Redorte.
Thumbnail courtesy of Nicolas Ben|Facebook, taken in Lavalette, France.