July 20th: Again some Tornadoes in Germany

[TheEuropean]

On Thursday we had again some tornadoes in northern and central Germany. In one case northeast of Frankfurt it was a F2-F3 with trees flown away and a roof landing about 1500 feet from its origin. There are some cases we have to investigate.

In 2006 we have at least 28 confirmend tornadoes in Germany so far and more than 70 cases we are investigating.

All about tornadoes in Germany:

http://www.tornadoliste.de/ (in german)
("Verdacht" means case is under investigation)

The European

[P.K.]

I see ESTOFEX had a level 1 threat for northern Germany on that day. 500 metres for a roof to travel is rather impressive!

[Bunkertor]

Hello to Watford !

I just read the tornadoliste: There is the " Überdach " mentioned that travelled 500 m.
Überdach is not similar to a roof. I think ist more like the roof of a carport or something. Those a often not so heavy because made of plastic or "Asbest".

[TheEuropean]

Hello to Watford !

I just read the tornadoliste: There is the " Überdach " mentioned that travelled 500 m.
Überdach is not similar to a roof. I think ist more like the roof of a carport or something. Those a often not so heavy because made of plastic or "Asbest".

Hi, that's right, but this one was a massive roof of a carport or so.

[Bunkertor]

Ah, OK, i didn´t watch this news actually, but when you tell, it was a massive thing, this is an astonishing issue...

[TexasStooge]

Seems Germany and Texas has switched places...tornado wise.

[TheEuropean]

Seems Germany and Texas has switched places...tornado wise.

Most people ignore that Germany is a tornado-land with many tornadoes every year, may be 50 or even more. And some of these tornadoes are very destructive. In July of 2004 there were 2 tornadoes in western Germany with damage of more than 100 million US-Dollars. This year so far 2 death were related to a tornado in Germany, but most people here in Germany think we have only a few small things called "Windhosen", like dust devils...

[P.K.]

That sounds like the way the media always refer to them as "mini-tornadoes" over here as if they don't do any damage. To be honest a tornado is just a tornado if that makes sense.

[TheEuropean]

That sounds like the way the media always refer to them as "mini-tornadoes" over here as if they don't do any damage. To be honest a tornado is just a tornado if that makes sense.

Hi P.K.:, The "Mini-Tornado" is also a typical word often used by the media in Germany. And they say in USA there are tornadoes and here in Germany we only have small "Mini-Tornadoes":



Is this a "Mini-Tornado"? (Image taken in June 2004 at Micheln, Germany, it was a F3)

Regards, Thomas

[P.K.]

That is it yes. I can match that picture above. I investigated this tornado last year and found T5 damage, a maximum width of 500 metres and a path length of almost 12 kilometres and yet it is still a "mini-tornado" apparently. (My paper on the one I investigated will be in the International Journal of Meteorology in September )

Thought I recognised the photo (If thats possible with a TN ), I've seen another one of that on the TORRO forum.

[Aslkahuna]

What you call mini tornadoes may be what we call landspouts-tornadoes not associated with the mesocyclone of a supercell thunderstorms. Obviously a F3 tornado is no mini when it comes to damage.

Steve

[P.K.]

It is more that the media think that all tornadoes in the USA are 1km wide, with 500 km/hr winds, and 50km path lengths. This may be partly down to the fact that when they do occasionally make the news here they are very strong tornadoes.

This mini term is a term we do our best, in TORRO at least, to stop people using but they still use it.

[TheEuropean]

What you call mini tornadoes may be what we call landspouts-tornadoes not associated with the mesocyclone of a supercell thunderstorms. Obviously a F3 tornado is no mini when it comes to damage.

Steve

Hi Steve,

only the media call it "mini", not we meteorologists.

Thomas