28/11/2006

Welsh village struck by 'tornado'

A clean-up operation is underway in a Welsh village after it was struck by what is believed to have been a small tornado in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

Emergency services were called to Bow Street in Aberystwyth in West Wales around 2am, as more than 20 houses were damaged in the storm.

Trees were uprooted, electricity cables were brought down and there was damage to roofs and chimneys. However, it is not thought that anyone was injured.

A spokesperson for Dyfed Powys Police said: "It was apparent that what is believed to be a tornado had struck parts of the village."

Weather experts have issued tornado warnings to other parts of Britain following the severe weather in Aberystwyth.

The Tornado and Storm Research Organisation (Torro) issued a warning at 12:55am on Tuesday of isolated severe thunderstorms or weak tornadoes over the next few days.

The warning, published on the organisation's website, applies to parts of south-west England, East Wales, South Wales and much of southern, central and eastern England.

The warning said that the highest tornado risk appeared to be along and close to the south coast.

Rachel Vince, a forecaster from the MeteoGroup UK, said that they had received reports of a tornado near Portsmouth on Saturday. However, she said that the main concern was general wind and heavy rain through the next 24 to 48 hours.

(KMcA)

Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

13 August 2015
Severe Weather Warning Issued
The Met Office has issued a Yellow warning for rain affecting much of England and Wales, and parts of Scotland, throughout Friday, 14 August. Rain is likely to be both persistent and heavy at times, with a risk of thunder, most likely over parts of England and Wales.
06 July 2012
Flood Warnings Issued As UK Braced For Heavy Rainfall
As weather forecasts predict a months rainfall in 24 hours, experts are warning of floods in many parts of the UK. The Environment Agency has urged 85 communities in England and Wales - mainly in the east and north-east of England - to be vigilant.
10 February 2012
Snow Follows Ice Across Parts Of England And Wales
The wintry weather will continue over the next few days as Atlantic weather systems stall as they move across the UK, bringing the mix of rain, sleet and snow. As expected, freezing rain and ice brought treacherous conditions across northern Britain on Thursday, and many parts of England and east Wales could will see snow today Friday.
04 February 2004
Flooding hits Wales and parts of northeast England
A number of main roads in Wales have been closed by the rising floodwaters as torrential rain swept north-eastwards this morning. The Environment Agency this afternoon had warned that water levels were continuing to rise.
02 July 2009
RAF Tornado Crashes In Scotland
An RAF Tornado fighter has crashed in Argyll, police have confirmed. It has been reported the aircraft crashed into a hillside near the Rest of Be Thankful pass at Arrochar, about two miles to the west of Loch Lomond at around 11.45am.