1981 United Kingdom tornado outbreak

The 1981 United Kingdom tornado outbreak is regarded as the largest recorded tornado outbreak in European history. In the span of 5 hours and 26 minutes during the late morning and early afternoon of 23 November 1981, 104 confirmed tornadoes touched down across Wales and central, northern and eastern England.[1]

1981 United Kingdom tornado outbreak
Meteorological history
Duration22–24 November 1981
Tornado outbreak
Tornadoes104
Maximum ratingF2 tornado
Overall effects
FatalitiesNone reported
DamageUnknown, but hundreds of properties damaged
Areas affectedEast Midlands; East of England; North West England; South East England; Wales; West Midlands; Yorkshire and the Humber

Part of the 1981–82 United Kingdom cold wave and tornado outbreaks of 1981

Although the majority of tornadoes were very weak, measuring FU-F1 on the Fujita scale, widespread property damage was reported, mainly from the small number of tornadoes which intensified to F2 strength. By the end of the outbreak, hundreds of properties across the country had been damaged.[2]

Most of the tornadoes occurred in rural areas and small villages across central parts of the United Kingdom, although several large metropolitan areas were affected. The St Helens area was the first to be struck by multiple tornadoes around 11:30, followed by the Manchester area around 12:00, the Hull area around 13:30 and the Birmingham area around 14:00. The strongest tornado of the outbreak, an F2 tornado, struck Holyhead in Anglesey, Wales at 10:30; the only other F2 tornado of the outbreak caused considerable damage in the village of Stoneleigh, Warwickshire around 14:00.

With 104 tornadoes, this single-day outbreak alone saw more confirmed tornadoes than any other whole year in British history – 1974 previously held the record, with 80 tornadoes across the whole year.[2] At the time of the 1981 outbreak, there had only been one other tornado outbreak in recorded history which produced more than 100 tornadoes within 24 hours, that being the 1974 Super Outbreak in the United States.[2] However, that outbreak included many more powerful tornadoes and resulted in hundreds of fatalities.

Meteorological background edit

On 22 November 1981, a rapidly deepening low-pressure extratropical cyclone was centred just off the northern coast of Scotland. The central pressure of this system was 994 mbar at 12:00 GMT on 22 November, deepening to 968 mbar by 12:00 GMT on 23 November.[3]

At the same time, a high-pressure anticyclone was pushing into southern England from mainland Europe. There was an unusually strong upper-level temperature gradient between the low- and high-pressure systems, with the low-pressure system funnelling in cold, arctic air from the north, clashing with humid, subtropical air moving up from southern Europe in the anticyclone.[4]

During the morning of 23 November, a cold front attached to the southern edge of the low-pressure area began to cross the United Kingdom from west to east. Fuelled by this temperature gradient and warm subtropical air to the south, a number of supercell thunderstorms became embedded within the southern edge of the cold front and its pre-frontal rain bands, spawning the first tornadoes over Wales around 10:30 GMT. By mid-afternoon, 104 tornadoes had been confirmed across the United Kingdom.

Several days after the tornado outbreak, the high-pressure anticyclone to the south of the British Isles broke down, allowing colder arctic air to move in from the north, resulting in the start of a record-breaking cold wave.

Confirmed tornadoes edit

Confirmed tornadoes by Fujita rating
FUF0F1F2F3F4F5Total
2124572000104
List of reported tornadoes - Monday 23 November 1981[1]
F#T#LocationCountyCoord.Time (UTC)Path lengthComments/Damage
Wales
F1T2AmlwchAnglesey53°24′N 4°20′W / 53.40°N 4.33°W / 53.40; -4.33 (Amlwch (1019, F1))10:19
(±15 mins)
6 kilometres (3.7 mi)First tornado of the outbreak; touched down in Rhosgoch and moved north-eastwards towards Amlwch.
F2T5HolyheadAnglesey53°19′N 4°38′W / 53.31°N 4.64°W / 53.31; -4.64 (Holyhead (1034, F2))10:34Strongest tornado of the outbreak. 20 houses were damaged in Holyhead and a mobile home was overturned and destroyed.[3]
FUTUHolyheadAnglesey53°18′N 4°38′W / 53.30°N 4.63°W / 53.30; -4.63 (Holyhead (1034, FU))10:34
F1T2Penrhos FeilwAnglesey53°17′N 4°41′W / 53.29°N 4.68°W / 53.29; -4.68 (Penrhos Feilw (1045, F1))10:45
(±15 mins)
F1T3Llanddaniel FabAnglesey53°13′N 4°16′W / 53.21°N 4.26°W / 53.21; -4.26 (Llanddaniel Fab (1100, F1))11:00
(±5 mins)
North West England
F1T3WallaseyMerseyside53°26′N 3°04′W / 53.43°N 3.07°W / 53.43; -3.07 (Wallasey (1130, F1))11:30
(±5 mins)
F0T1BirkenheadMerseyside53°24′N 3°02′W / 53.40°N 3.03°W / 53.40; -3.03 (Birkenhead (1130, F0))11:30
(±1 hour)
F1T2St HelensMerseyside53°27′N 2°44′W / 53.45°N 2.73°W / 53.45; -2.73 (St Helens (1150, F1))11:50
(±5 mins)
Tornado passed through St Helens town centre, causing damage.
F1T3Great SuttonCheshire53°16′N 2°56′W / 53.27°N 2.94°W / 53.27; -2.94 (Great Sutton (1200, F1))12:00
(±5 mins)
F1T3AntrobusCheshire53°19′N 2°32′W / 53.31°N 2.54°W / 53.31; -2.54 (Antrobus (1200, F1))12:00
(±3 hours)
F1T3CroftCheshire53°26′N 2°33′W / 53.43°N 2.55°W / 53.43; -2.55 (Croft (1200, F1))12:00
(±3 hours)
11 kilometres (6.8 mi)Tornado later moved over the town of Warrington, causing some damage.
F1T2HollinwoodGreater Manchester53°31′N 2°08′W / 53.52°N 2.13°W / 53.52; -2.13 (Hollinwood (1200, F1))12:00
(±30 mins)
5 kilometres (3.1 mi)Tornado later moved over the town of Oldham, causing some damage.
F1T2Cheadle HulmeGreater Manchester53°22′N 2°11′W / 53.37°N 2.18°W / 53.37; -2.18 (Cheadle Hulme (1200, F1))12:00
(±3 hours)
Small tornado affecting parts of the town of Stockport.
F0T1WhitefieldGreater Manchester53°33′N 2°18′W / 53.55°N 2.30°W / 53.55; -2.30 (Whitefield (1200, F0))12:00
(±3 hours)
Small tornado affecting parts of the town of Bury.
F0T1TimperleyGreater Manchester53°24′N 2°20′W / 53.40°N 2.33°W / 53.40; -2.33 (Timperley (1200, F0))12:00
(±5 mins)
West Midlands
F1T2NorburyShropshire53°32′N 2°56′W / 53.53°N 2.94°W / 53.53; -2.94 (Norbury (1200, F1))12:00
(±3 hours)
60 kilometres (37 mi)Staying on the ground for a long distance, this tornado also significantly affected the town of Whitchurch before dissipating.
F1T3Market DraytonShropshire52°55′N 2°29′W / 52.91°N 2.49°W / 52.91; -2.49 (Market Drayton (1200, F1))12:00
(±5 mins)
F0T1BeckburyShropshire52°37′N 2°21′W / 52.62°N 2.35°W / 52.62; -2.35 (Beckbury (1200, F0))12:00
(±3 hours)
F1T2KnockinShropshire52°47′N 3°00′W / 52.78°N 3.00°W / 52.78; -3.00 (Knockin (1200, F1))12:00
(±3 hours)
8 kilometres (5.0 mi)Also affected the town of Oswestry, causing some damage.
F1T2Chetwynd ManorShropshire52°46′N 2°23′W / 52.77°N 2.38°W / 52.77; -2.38 (Chetwynd Manor (1200, F1))12:00
(±5 mins)
5 kilometres (3.1 mi)The market town of Newport was also impacted by this tornado.
F1T2IronbridgeShropshire52°38′N 2°28′W / 52.63°N 2.47°W / 52.63; -2.47 (Ironbridge (1200, F1))12:00
(±3 hours)
F0T1KenilworthWarwickshire52°21′N 1°35′W / 52.35°N 1.58°W / 52.35; -1.58 (Kenilworth (1200, F0))12:00
(±15 mins)
F0T1Fenny ComptonWarwickshire52°09′N 1°23′W / 52.15°N 1.38°W / 52.15; -1.38 (Fenny Compton (1200, F0))12:00
(±3 hours)
F1T2WemShropshire52°52′N 2°43′W / 52.86°N 2.72°W / 52.86; -2.72 (Wem (1205, F1))12:05
(±5 mins)
F1T2FordhousesWest Midlands52°38′N 2°08′W / 52.63°N 2.13°W / 52.63; -2.13 (Fordhouses (1400, F1))14:00
(±1 hour)
Tornado caused damage in the suburbs of Wolverhampton.
F1T2BloxwichWest Midlands52°37′N 2°00′W / 52.62°N 2.00°W / 52.62; -2.00 (Bloxwich (1400, F1))14:00
(±1 hour)
Tornado affected the outskirts of Walsall.
F1T2DudleyWest Midlands52°30′N 2°05′W / 52.50°N 2.08°W / 52.50; -2.08 (Dudley (1400, F1))14:00
(±1 hour)
1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi)Tornado touched down in the suburb of Woodsetton and later passed through Dudley town centre causing some damage before dissipating.
F1T2ErdingtonWest Midlands52°31′N 1°50′W / 52.52°N 1.84°W / 52.52; -1.84 (Erdington (1400, F1))14:00
(±1 hour)
Tornado impacted the northern suburbs of Birmingham, causing some damage.
F1T2Selly OakWest Midlands52°26′N 1°57′W / 52.43°N 1.95°W / 52.43; -1.95 (Selly Oak (1400, F1))14:00
(±1 hour)
Tornado impacted the southern suburbs of Birmingham, causing some damage.
F0T1SolihullWest Midlands52°25′N 1°47′W / 52.42°N 1.78°W / 52.42; -1.78 (Solihull (1400, F0))14:00
(±1 hour)
4 kilometres (2.5 mi)Small tornado touched down in the suburb of Shirley and continued through to Solihull town centre.
F2T4StoneleighWarwickshire52°21′N 1°31′W / 52.35°N 1.52°W / 52.35; -1.52 (Stoneleigh (1400, F2))14:00
(±15 mins)
Second strongest tornado of the outbreak, caused considerable damage in the village of Stoneleigh. 20 large static caravans were blown over and destroyed.[3]
South East England
F0T1ClaydonOxfordshire52°08′N 1°20′W / 52.13°N 1.33°W / 52.13; -1.33 (Claydon (1200, F0))12:00
(±3 hours)
F0T1HorntonOxfordshire52°05′N 1°25′W / 52.08°N 1.42°W / 52.08; -1.42 (Hornton (1200, F0))12:00
(±3 hours)
F1T2HavershamBuckinghamshire52°04′N 0°47′W / 52.07°N 0.78°W / 52.07; -0.78 (Haversham (1200, F1))12:00
(±3 hours)
Affected Milton Keynes.
F1T3WolvertonBuckinghamshire52°03′N 0°49′W / 52.05°N 0.82°W / 52.05; -0.82 (Wolverton (1200, F1))12:00
(±3 hours)
Affected Milton Keynes.
East Midlands
F0T1DaventryNorthamptonshire52°15′N 1°10′W / 52.25°N 1.17°W / 52.25; -1.17 (Daventry (1200, F0))12:00
(±3 hours)
F1T2Great HoughtonNorthamptonshire52°13′N 0°50′W / 52.22°N 0.83°W / 52.22; -0.83 (Great Houghton (1200, F1))12:00
(±3 hours)
F0T1Yardley HastingsNorthamptonshire52°12′N 0°44′W / 52.20°N 0.73°W / 52.20; -0.73 (Yardley Hastings (1200, F0))12:00
(±3 hours)
F1T2WrawbyLincolnshire53°34′N 0°28′W / 53.57°N 0.47°W / 53.57; -0.47 (Wrawby (1315, F1))13:15
(±5 mins)
F1T3South KillingholmeLincolnshire53°34′N 0°14′W / 53.57°N 0.23°W / 53.57; -0.23 (South Killingholme (1330, F1))13:30
(±1 hour)
F1T2KeelbyLincolnshire53°34′N 0°15′W / 53.57°N 0.25°W / 53.57; -0.25 (Keelby (1330, F1))13:30
(±1 hour)
F1T3GrimsbyLincolnshire53°32′N 0°03′W / 53.53°N 0.05°W / 53.53; -0.05 (Grimsby (1330, F1))13:30
(±1 hour)
F0T0Tydd St MaryLincolnshire52°45′N 0°08′E / 52.75°N 0.14°E / 52.75; 0.14 (Tydd St Mary (1445, F0))14:45
(±30 mins)
Yorkshire and the Humber
F1T2Kingston upon HullEast Riding of Yorkshire53°45′N 0°20′W / 53.75°N 0.34°W / 53.75; -0.34 (Kingston upon Hull (1330, F1))13:30
(±5 mins)
Tornado passed through the north-eastern residential suburbs of Hull, causing damage.
F0T0Kingston upon HullEast Riding of Yorkshire53°44′N 0°17′W / 53.74°N 0.29°W / 53.74; -0.29 (Kingston upon Hull (1330, F0))13:30
(±1 hour)
Small tornado affected the Port of Hull.
East of England
F1T2CarltonBedfordshire52°11′N 0°37′W / 52.19°N 0.61°W / 52.19; -0.61 (Carlton (1445, F1))14:45
(±5 mins)
F0T0Aspley GuiseBedfordshire52°01′N 0°38′W / 52.02°N 0.63°W / 52.02; -0.63 (Aspley Guise (1445, F0))14:45
(±30 mins)
F1T2FlittonBedfordshire52°00′N 0°27′W / 52.00°N 0.45°W / 52.00; -0.45 (Flitton (1445, F1))14:45
(±30 mins)
F0T0LutonBedfordshire51°53′N 0°25′W / 51.88°N 0.42°W / 51.88; -0.42 (Luton (1445, F0))14:45
(±30 mins)
Small tornado affected Luton, causing minimal damage.
F1T2Letchworth Garden CityHertfordshire51°58′N 0°13′W / 51.97°N 0.22°W / 51.97; -0.22 (Letchworth Garden City (1445, F1))14:45
(±30 mins)
F1T2FowlmereCambridgeshire52°05′N 0°05′E / 52.08°N 0.08°E / 52.08; 0.08 (Fowlmere (1445, F1))14:45
(±5 mins)
F0T0Friday BridgeCambridgeshire52°37′N 0°10′E / 52.62°N 0.16°E / 52.62; 0.16 (Friday Bridge (1445, F0))14:45
(±30 mins)
F1T2UpwellNorfolk52°36′N 0°13′E / 52.60°N 0.22°E / 52.60; 0.22 (Upwell (1445, F0))14:45
(±30 mins)
F1T3HuntingdonCambridgeshire52°20′N 0°11′W / 52.33°N 0.18°W / 52.33; -0.18 (Huntingdon (1445, F1))14:45
(±5 mins)
Moderate tornado caused damage in Huntingdon town centre.
FUTUWickenCambridgeshire52°18′N 0°18′E / 52.30°N 0.30°E / 52.30; 0.30 (Wicken (1445, FU))14:45
(±30 mins)
F1T2DiddingtonCambridgeshire52°16′N 0°15′W / 52.27°N 0.25°W / 52.27; -0.25 (Diddington (1445, F1))14:45
(±30 mins)
F1T2HarroldBedfordshire52°12′N 0°37′W / 52.20°N 0.61°W / 52.20; -0.61 (Harrold (1500, F1))15:00
(±5 mins)
F1T2SilsoeBedfordshire52°00′N 0°25′W / 52.00°N 0.42°W / 52.00; -0.42 (Silsoe (1500, F1))15:00
(±5 mins)
F0T1Melton ConstableNorfolk52°51′N 1°02′E / 52.85°N 1.03°E / 52.85; 1.03 (Melton Constable (1500, F0))15:00
(±5 mins)
F1T2SwaffhamNorfolk52°39′N 0°41′E / 52.65°N 0.68°E / 52.65; 0.68 (Swaffham (1500, F1))15:00
(±30 mins)
F0T1NorwichNorfolk52°38′N 1°18′E / 52.63°N 1.30°E / 52.63; 1.30 (Norwich (1500, F0))15:00
(±30 mins)
Small tornado affected Norwich city centre and surrounding suburbs, causing widespread but minor damage.
F1T2ShipdhamNorfolk52°37′N 0°54′E / 52.62°N 0.90°E / 52.62; 0.90 (Shipdham (1500, F1))15:00
(±15 mins)
F0T1FouldenNorfolk52°33′N 0°36′E / 52.55°N 0.60°E / 52.55; 0.60 (Foulden (1500, F0))15:00
(±30 mins)
F1T2MethwoldNorfolk52°31′N 0°33′E / 52.52°N 0.55°E / 52.52; 0.55 (Methwold (1500, F1))15:00
(±5 mins)
F1T2MorningthorpeNorfolk52°29′N 1°16′E / 52.48°N 1.27°E / 52.48; 1.27 (Morningthorpe (1500, F1))15:00
(±30 mins)
F0T1Pulham MarketNorfolk52°25′N 1°15′E / 52.42°N 1.25°E / 52.42; 1.25 (Pulham Market (1500, F0))15:00
(±30 mins)
F0T1Pulham St MaryNorfolk52°26′N 1°15′E / 52.43°N 1.25°E / 52.43; 1.25 (Pulham St Mary (1500, F0))15:00
(±30 mins)
F0T1LakenheathSuffolk52°26′N 0°34′E / 52.43°N 0.57°E / 52.43; 0.57 (Lakenheath (1500, F0))15:00
(±30 mins)
F0T1Heybridge BasinEssex51°44′N 0°43′E / 51.73°N 0.71°E / 51.73; 0.71 (Heybridge Basin (1500, F0))15:00
(±15 mins)
F1T2AntinghamNorfolk52°51′N 1°21′E / 52.85°N 1.35°E / 52.85; 1.35 (Antingham (1515, F1))15:15
(±15 mins)
F1T2Long StrattonNorfolk52°29′N 1°14′E / 52.48°N 1.23°E / 52.48; 1.23 (Long Stratton (1515, F1))15:15
(±5 mins)
F1T2ElmswellSuffolk52°14′N 0°55′E / 52.23°N 0.92°E / 52.23; 0.92 (Elmswell (1515, F1))15:15
(±30 mins)
F1T2ChelmsfordEssex51°44′N 0°29′E / 51.73°N 0.48°E / 51.73; 0.48 (Chelmsford (1515, F1))15:15
(±30 mins)
Tornado affected Chelmsford city centre and surrounding suburbs causing minor damage.
F1T3North CreakeNorfolk52°54′N 0°46′E / 52.90°N 0.77°E / 52.90; 0.77 (North Creake (1520, F1))15:20
(±15 mins)
F0T1MendleshamSuffolk52°15′N 1°04′E / 52.25°N 1.07°E / 52.25; 1.07 (Mendlesham (1520, F0))15:20
(±5 mins)
F1T3BecclesSuffolk52°28′N 1°34′E / 52.47°N 1.57°E / 52.47; 1.57 (Beccles (1530, F1))15:30
(±5 mins)
F1T2CombsSuffolk52°10′N 0°59′E / 52.17°N 0.99°E / 52.17; 0.99 (Combs (1530, F1))15:30
(±5 mins)
F1T2Needham MarketSuffolk52°10′N 1°04′E / 52.16°N 1.06°E / 52.16; 1.06 (Needham Market (1530, F1))15:30
(±15 mins)
F1T3CoddenhamSuffolk52°08′N 1°07′E / 52.13°N 1.12°E / 52.13; 1.12 (Coddenham (1530, F1))15:30
(±5 mins)
F1T2Chignall SmealyEssex51°47′N 0°25′E / 51.78°N 0.41°E / 51.78; 0.41 (Chignall Smealy (1530, F1))15:30
(±5 mins)
F1T2BroomfieldEssex51°46′N 0°28′E / 51.77°N 0.47°E / 51.77; 0.47 (Broomfield (1530, F1))15:30
(±5 mins)
F1T2MundonEssex51°41′N 1°07′E / 51.68°N 1.12°E / 51.68; 1.12 (Mundon (1535, F1))15:35
(±5 mins)
F1T2WymondhamNorfolk52°34′N 1°07′E / 52.57°N 1.12°E / 52.57; 1.12 (Wymondham (1540, F1))15:40
(±15 mins)
F1T2Clacton-on-SeaEssex51°47′N 1°10′E / 51.79°N 1.16°E / 51.79; 1.16 (Clacton-on-Sea (1545, F1))15:45
(±5 mins)
Tornado affected Clacton town centre and the seafront, causing moderate damage.
F1T2West MerseaEssex51°46′N 0°54′E / 51.77°N 0.90°E / 51.77; 0.90 (West Mersea (1545, F1))15:45
(±5 mins)
Last tornado of the outbreak, touching down 5 hours and 26 minutes after the first tornado.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b "European Severe Weather Database". www.eswd.eu.
  2. ^ a b c Rowe, M. W.; Meaden, G. T. (1985). "Britain's Greatest Tornado Outbreak". Weather. 40 (8): 230–235. Bibcode:1985Wthr...40..230R. doi:10.1002/j.1477-8696.1985.tb06883.x.
  3. ^ a b c Apsley, Miriam L.; Mulder, Kelsey J.; Schultz, David M. (2016). "Reexamining the United Kingdom's Greatest Tornado Outbreak: Forecasting the Limited Extent of Tornadoes along a Cold Front" (PDF). Weather and Forecasting. 31 (3): 853–875. Bibcode:2016WtFor..31..853A. doi:10.1175/WAF-D-15-0131.1.
  4. ^ "23 November 1981: Tornado Outbreak - TheWeatherOutlook forum". www.theweatheroutlook.com.