October 2022 European tornado outbreak

October 2022 European tornado outbreak

Storm Beatrice, the storm which was responsible for the tornado outbreak
Type	Tornado outbreak
Formed	23 October 2022 (2022-10-23)
Highest winds	270 km/h (170 mph)
Tornadoes confirmed	11
Max. rating1	EF3 tornado[1]
Fatalities	0
Areas affected	England, France, Belgium
Part of the tornado outbreaks of 2022 1Most severe tornado damage; see Enhanced Fujita scale

On 23 October 2022, Storm Beatrice spawned multiple severe thunderstorms across parts of Europe, including tornadic supercells in parts of France and embedded circulations in the mesoscale convective system that impacted parts of England. Eleven tornadoes were confirmed as a result of the outbreak, some of which were strong and caused major damage. 4 F1 tornadoes and 1 F2 tornado struck Hampshire and Greater London. The most significant tornadoes of the outbreak occurred in France, including two F2 tornadoes, and a very long-tracked EF3/F3/IF3/T6 tornado that caused major damage in multiple towns, and became the longest-tracked tornado in the history of France, remaining on the ground for 206 km (128 mi). The most severe damage from the F3 tornado occurred in Bihucourt, where numerous brick homes and other buildings had roofs torn off and exterior walls collapsed. The Bihucourt tornado eventually crossed into Belgium before dissipating and was the strongest tornado in France since an F3 tornado caused significant damage near Étrochey on 19 June 2013. One of the F2 tornadoes struck Beuzeville while the other impacted Songeons, with significant damage occurring in both towns. In addition to the tornadoes, numerous reports of flooding, hail, and damaging straight-line winds were also received. Despite the severity of the damage, no fatalities occurred as a result of the tornadoes, though a few injuries were reported.^{[2][3][4][5][6]}

An intense, destructive, and very long-tracked EF3/F3/IF3/T6 tornado caused major damage in multiple localities in France, before crossing into Belgium and causing additional damage there before dissipating. After touching down, it first struck the small community of Belleuse, where trees were downed and roughly a dozen buildings were damaged. The tornado then impacted Conty, where many homes and masonry buildings were unroofed, brick garden walls were toppled, and streets were left covered in debris. 80 homes were damaged in Conty, and 10 were left uninhabitable, while a school, gymnasium, post office, and a sawmill were damaged as well. It then moved northeastward through rural areas outside of Amiens and Albert, damaging crops, trees, and wind turbines. The tornado then rapidly strengthened, reaching its peak intensity as it struck Bihucourt. Numerous well-built brick homes and other buildings in town were severely damaged and had their roofs torn off, several sustained total collapse of multiple exterior walls, and a few houses sustained complete destruction of their top floors. Large trees were snapped and debranched, cars were tossed, a church was badly damaged, and debris was scattered throughout Bihucourt, where 90 homes were damaged, 48 of which were left uninhabitable. Metal-framed outbuildings were destroyed outside of town, and large round hay bales were thrown. It then weakened somewhat but still caused extensive damage as it moved through Hendecourt-lès-Cagnicourt, where trees were downed and 50 homes and farms were damaged in and around town, with some structures sustaining severe damage. Greenhouses and large outbuildings were damaged or destroyed, and projectiles were driven into the exteriors of some buildings. Continuing to the northeast, the tornado moved through Arleux and inflicted significant damage to trees and the roofs of multiple homes. It then downed many trees as it passed near Erchin before striking Masny, where 50 homes were damaged, some significantly. 10 administrative buildings were also damaged in town, along with a school and two sports halls. Continuing through Warlaing, the tornado snapped and uprooted trees, and inflicted major roof damage to buildings in town before crossing into Belgium. There, it inflicted considerable roof and window damage to homes and other buildings in the small villages of Braffe and Willaupuis. A small brick chapel near Willapuis was largely destroyed, and trees and farms near both communities were also damaged. The tornado eventually dissipated near Leuze-en-Hainaut in the small community of Blicquy. This was the longest-tracked tornado in the history of France, with its total path length measured at 206 km (128 mi). It remained on the ground for two and a half hours. No fatalities occurred as a result of the tornado, though a few minor injuries were reported.^[1][6][12]

• 2021 South Moravia tornado
• August 2008 European tornado outbreak – The F4 Hautmont tornado struck in the same region
• List of European tornadoes and tornado outbreaks

• Tornadoes & Strong Winds Hit England - Oct. 23, 2022
• Strong Tornadoes Hit Northern France - Oct. 23, 2022 tornades en France