MAY UK WHIRLWIND EVENTS
A less than average month with just one definite and two probable tornadoes, two definite and five probable waterspouts and six funnel clouds and three probable funnel clouds. Last year's May, by comparison saw four tornadoes, one possible, one waterspout and eleven funnel clouds, and two probable funnel clouds.
tn 5th May 1115 BST. Sandbach, Cheshire. David Moss witnessed a small tornado. Eyewitness contacted.
tn 5th May 1520 BST. Strabane, N. Ireland. TORRO member Terry Fryer passed on this report. Tornado was reportedly filmed on the ground for 30-40 seconds
fc 12th May 1330 BST. East Sussex Coast. Reported by eyewitness Paul Barber. No Further details
FC 12th May 1106 BST.Danbury, Essex. Tom Defty filmed a crisp white funnel cloud and sent in the image to the BSWC. No further detail.
TN 12th May 1315 BST. Great Yarmouth. This T1 tornado received lots of press reporting and was investigated by TORRO site investigator Chris Warner. Who has since sent in a detailed report of events to TORRO.
fc 13th May 1230 BST East Sussex. TORRO member Stuart Robinson sent in this report. A funnel cloud was spotted just offshore extending most of the way to the ground.
WS 13th May 1810 BST Freshwater, Isle of Wight. TORRO member Justin Ford and myself witnessed a large waterspout form in the English Channel. The cell which spawned the vortex looked much like a low topped mini supercell with well defined signs of rotation. A well defined wall cloud was visible moments before the funnel appeared.
FC 13th May 1820 BST St Catherine's Point, Isle of Wight. The same cell went on to produce a thin snaking funnel cloud from a different part of the cloud base, visible for a couple of minutes. No lightning associated.
5 ws's 13th May PM. W. Sussex coast. TORRO executive Paul Knightley passed on a report this report. No further details.
FC 13th May PM. Reading. TORRO executive Nigel Bolton witnessed a rope like funnel cloud overhead during an intense thunderstorm.
WS 15th May 1830 BST. Selsey, W.Sussex. TORRO director Terence Meaden was fortunate enough to witness and photograph this waterspout.
3 FC 24th May 1700 BST.Abingdon, Oxford. A pilot witnessed three funnel clouds whilst flying at 1200 ft. The funnels were estimated to be 1300-1500 ft long.
fc 24th May Aberdeen, Scotland. TORRO member Alistair McCarthy sent in this report from the Aberdeen Evening Press. Said to have been visible for 30 minutes.
AN OFFICIAL TORNADO WATCH WAS ISSUED 12th MAY. One definite tornado, a funnel cloud and one possible funnel cloud have since been reported for this day. AN OFFICIAL SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH WAS ISSUED 31st MAY. Forecaster Paul Knightley.
CONCLUDING COMMENTS
Overall not a particularly busy month though several lightning events did reach the press through this period. These include 14th May A WPC struck whilst riding her bike, but was lucky to avoid serious injury. 15th May saw a golfer unlucky to be struck twice and a school in Ipswitch badly damaged. 20th May saw three houses struck by lightning in Birmingham causing extensive damage.
TORRO would like to thank Dr Terence Meaden for representing TORRO in a live BBC radio interview. The request was made soon after the multiple tornado events that occurred in the USA earlier in the month. All members should consider similar involvement when the chance comes your way.
For tornado site investigations:- TORRO would like to thank Chris Warner for undertaking a detailed site investigation for the Great Yarmouth tornado and putting together a report summary on 'Power Point'. Please can members also consider putting together papers for the Journal of Meteorology. Please use previous site investigations within the JMet for reference to layout. All papers to be sent to Robert Doe editorial@journalofmeteorology.com
AVBrief have requested that I give a mention to members once again for radar access. I have subscribed and tested the new set up and it all seems to work fine. Contact http://www.avbrief.com/ to find further details. If you require 15 minute radar only it will cost as little as £28.85 for a years access which I believe to be good value. Such images can also be saved and added to any research papers you may be involved with. Virtual tracking of storms can be quite exciting and is sometimes a good alternative to driving hundreds of miles.
I would like to remind members once again that the message board is there for all to be involved with. I apologies if there is some delay with staff answering questions, as we all have regular jobs of our own and will attend to the list as often as we can manage. Members should feel free to answer each others questions if they feel able to do so. If we can all share each others knowledge then we can all gain from this.
Our apologies with the delay in re building the web site. This important issue will be dealt with as soon as is practicable.
Best Wishes Tony Gilbert Tornado Site Investigation Co ordinator. (Director to The Tornado and Storm Research Organisation)