Tornado In France: F1 Storm Touches Down South Of Toulouse (VIDEOS)

A category F1 tornado touched down in France southwest of the city of Toulouse on April 29, causing minor damage, according to the French weather website Meteorologic.

The funnel cloud was witnessed by residents who quickly grabbed their cameras and shot photos and video of the storm's dusty column, which appeared against dramatic storm clouds, and according to at least one piece of footage, a spectacular blue sky.

Scroll Down For Video Of The Tornado

Meteorologic reports that the F1 storm touched down southwest of Toulouse around 7:30 p.m. local time.

Damage included collapsed walls, uprooted trees, and cars that were moved around in the city. Storms of this category on the Fujita scale have winds between 73 and 112 mph.

According to EarthSky, "Violent tornadoes are rare in France." Yet, a 2008 storm that ripped through the town of Hautmont, near Belgium, killed 3 and damaged 40 homes, according to Sky News.

While the variables that cause tornadoes are complex, they occur essentially when the updraft within a thunderstorm causes horizontally rotating air in the lower atmosphere to tilt upward, according to the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration. Most tornadoes, such as the one that hit Toulouse, are weak, lasting less than 10 minutes and achieving wind speeds of less than 110 mph.

A 2011 article in the Atlantic pointed to climate change as a governing factor in increasing the severity of tornadoes and other extreme weather, citing studies published in the magazines Science and Nature.

"Changing atmospheric and oceanic conditions underlie the changing patterns of weather—and that the stage is set for more severe storms, including even more punishing tornadoes," the article concluded.

WATCH: Tornado In France Caught On Video:

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Comments

[RustamnTanya Qazi]

09:43 PM on 05/26/2012

The french sound elegant even when excited....:)

[dverghese123]

07:40 PM on 05/26/2012

Thats what we call a land spout. Looks as though it formed without a mesocyclone because you can easily see the interior of the funnel and the debris cloud is just dust and not part of the clouds at all.

[Danny-kins]

06:41 PM on 05/24/2012

Wow! Tornadoes outside of the US tend to be really rare! That said, I'm also a bit surprised that the Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale hasn't apparently become widely-used internationally...

[mitzmanx]

12:33 PM on 05/24/2012

SRSLY! An F1 (weakest category) tornado makes international news!?! We have these on a weekly basis in summer in the Midwest and Great Plains. By comparison, the one that hit Joplin last year was an F5 (strongest). And no one died...I could make so many Frensh jokes right now!

[Danny-kins]

06:45 PM on 05/24/2012

Actually, an E/F-0 is the weakest category. That aside, you have to take into account the relative rarity of the event. Sure, worse ones occur in the US more often, but when a place that doesn't get tornadoes often (if at all) suddenly receives such an abnormal occurrence, it's bound to cause some publicity. Besides, to a weather geek, this is pretty darn cool, regardless of the intensity or the location! :)

[vcgraphics]

05:07 PM on 05/19/2012

wow you never hear about tornadoes every hitting europe. Not saying it's impossible just always thought the climate was not suited for their development.

[sillyfrog]

09:01 PM on 05/20/2012

It said a 2008 storm that ripped through the town of Hautmont, near Belgium.

[Jennifer Hagan]

06:00 PM on 05/21/2012

No there are tornadoes that hit Europe. You had one that hit the city of London a few years ago and I live in Clermont Ferrand France and we've been getting them more and more. It is crazy. Whirlwinds and mini tornadoes.

[vcgraphics]

11:48 PM on 05/21/2012

Very Interesting thank you for sharing

[rapid underdevelopment]

04:04 PM on 05/19/2012

I don't think I've ever seen a photo or video of a tornado with so much clear blue sky around it.

[bobhay]

03:50 PM on 05/19/2012

looks like a big dust devil to me

[jenniferkizzy]

04:19 PM on 05/02/2012

some one has a weather device which james bond bad guy has one

[jenniferkizzy]

04:18 PM on 05/02/2012

hope my euro bro's and sis's are ok france is probably upset about this bye or not

[Mark Dygert]

02:55 PM on 05/02/2012

"Sorry about that... I meant to send that to Toulouse in Louisiana, not France. I will double down in hurricane season to make up for it."
- God

[dverghese123]

07:41 PM on 05/26/2012

Nah, i think Mother Nature does that.

[Stevewonder7138]

02:30 PM on 05/02/2012

Wow. American-style weather has finally been outsourced across the pond.
[On planet Earth, tornadoes typically found only in North America].

[rghw]

03:27 PM on 05/02/2012

Ah, but the climate isn't changing - didn't you hear?

[yeti7]

07:08 PM on 05/02/2012

what you think this is new ?

[yeti7]

07:09 PM on 05/02/2012

while rare not unknown-not caused by man made global warming
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_European_tornadoes_and_tornado_outbreaks

[jenniferkizzy]

04:18 PM on 05/02/2012

can you out source weather

[whatsurbrain4]

05:29 PM on 05/02/2012

Mother Earth can do whatever she wants!