August 2008 European tornado outbreak

The August 2008 European tornado outbreak was a widespread severe weather event which spawned thirteen tornadoes in four countries, one of which killed three people in France. This particular tornado reached F4 intensity.^[1]

Meteorological synopsis[]

On August 3, several areas of low pressure developed. Frontal systems extended from one of the lows, stretching from the Azores to the Germany coastline.

Confirmed tornadoes[]

August 3 event[]

List of reported tornadoes - Sunday, August 3, 2008
F#	Location	State	Coord.	Time (UTC)	Path length	Damage
Germany
F0	N of Langeneß (1st tornado)	Schleswig-Holstein	54°40′N 8°36′E / 54.66°N 8.60°E / 54.66; 8.60 (Langeneß (Aug. 3, F0))	1150	unknown	A brief waterspout developed near the coast of northern Germany. The waterspout dissipated before reaching shore.[2]
F1	N of Langeneß (2nd tornado)	Schleswig-Holstein	54°40′N 8°36′E / 54.66°N 8.60°E / 54.66; 8.60 (Langeneß (Aug. 3, F1))	1150	unknown	The second of two waterspouts near Langeneß developed in the same location as the first but briefly tracked onshore, tossing beach chairs before dissipating.[2]
F0	N of Büsum	Schleswig-Holstein		1300	unknown	A brief waterspout developed near Büsum.[2]
F0	N of Norderney	Lower Saxony		1453	unknown	A brief waterspout developed near Norderney.[2]
F2	Goldenstedt area	Lower Saxony	52°47′N 8°26′E / 52.78°N 8.43°E / 52.78; 8.43 (Goldenstedt (Aug. 3, F2))	2115	4 km (2.5 mi)	The strongest tornado to touch down in Germany during the outbreak struck Goldenstedt. Numerous homes were damaged by the tornado and several trees were uprooted.[2]
Netherlands
F1	Oostermeer area	Friesland	53°10′N 6°03′E / 53.17°N 6.05°E / 53.17; 6.05 (Oostermeer (Aug. 3, F1))	1745	unknown	A tornado tracked for 25 minutes in Friesland and damaged large areas of trees and tore roofs off several homes.[3]
F2	Groningen area	Groningen	53°12′N 6°15′E / 53.20°N 6.25°E / 53.20; 6.25 (Groningen (Aug. 3, F2))	1845	unknown	A strong F2 tornado damaged or destroyed several homes and barns and uprooted numerous trees. The maximum width of the tornado was estimated at 200 metres. Dozens of people were reportedly injured by the tornado and damages exceeded €100,000.[3]
France
F4	Hautmont area	Nord	50°15′N 3°56′E / 50.25°N 3.93°E / 50.25; 3.93 (Hautmont (Aug. 3, F4))	2200	18.7 km (11.6 mi)	3 deaths – See section on this tornado

August 4 event[]

List of reported tornadoes - Monday, August 4, 2008
F#	Location	State	Coord.	Time (UTC)	Path length	Damage
Germany
F1	Deckbergen area	Lower Saxony		0258	2.5 km (1.6 mi)	A 200 to 300 metre wide tornado damaged several residences.[2]
F1	Birkenau area	Hesse	49°34′N 8°43′E / 49.56°N 8.71°E / 49.56; 8.71 (Birkenau (Aug. 3, F1))	0650	330 m (360 yd)	A brief and narrow tornado damaged several homes and tore bricks off the local firehouse.[2]
Poland
F0	Augustów area	Podlaskie Voivodeship	53°51′N 23°00′E / 53.85°N 23.00°E / 53.85; 23.00 (Augustów (Aug. 3, F0))	1400	200 m (220 yd)	A brief rope tornado touched down in Augustów
F0	Świdnik area	Lublin Voivodeship	51°15′N 22°52′E / 51.25°N 22.86°E / 51.25; 22.86 (Świdnik (Aug. 3, F0))	1510	200 m (220 yd)	A brief rope tornado touched down in Świdnik
F2	Jastkowice area	Subcarpathian Voivodeship	50°37′N 22°06′E / 50.62°N 22.10°E / 50.62; 22.10 (Jastkowice (Aug. 3, F2))	1615	unknown

Hautmont tornado[]

The tornado initially touched down outside the city of Pont-sur-Sambre, initially causing damage ranging from F0 to F1 in intensity. The tornado then moved through a corn field at 20:28 UTC in the northern part of the town, causing damages to power lines and roofs of buildings. The storm rapidly strengthened immediately after hitting Pont-sur-Sambre, reaching F2-F3 strength just about 2 km from the point of touchdown. At the 20:31 UTC the storm caused serious damage to some rural brick homes, one of which was completely leveled to the ground at F4 (T8) strength, and the other sustaining F2 (T4-T5) damage. With winds in excess of 300 km / h (F4), the tornado reached a forested area, debarking or uprooting all the trees in a radius of 150 m. Then the tornado struck the city of Hautmont, severely damaging or flattening multiple brick homes and structures in town, killing 3 people and injuring 18 others. Multiple cars were picked up and thrown hundreds of meters, some of which were hurled into buildings. All the houses and buildings within a radius of 500m sustaining varying degrees of damage. Small objects from town were also found tens of kilometers away. At 20:35 the storm arrived in Maubeuge, causing damage of F2 (T4/5) and F1 (T2/T3) strength, destroying a church tower and damaging many other buildings. At 20:40 the tornado began to shrink in size and strength, causing F0 damage to some trees and structures before finally dissipating at 20:42 not far from the border of Belgium.

The tornado remained on the ground for about 14 minutes with a displacement speed of about 40–50 km/h and winds that have exceeded 300 km / h along a total path of 18.7 km, killing 3 people and damaging about 1000 buildings with a width of 150m-200m.

See also[]

• Tornadoes of 2008

References[]

External links[]

• Damage report with photographs of destroyed houses (PDF) (French)