Meteorological history | |
---|---|
Date | 17 October 1091 |
F4 tornado | |
on the Fujita scale | |
T8 tornado | |
on the TORRO scale | |
Highest winds | >343 km/h (213 mph) |
Overall effects | |
Fatalities | 2 |
Areas affected | London, United Kingdom |
The London Tornado of 1091 is the earliest reported tornado in England, occurring in London on Friday, 17 October 1091.[1][2] It has been estimated by modern assessment as possibly a T8 on the TORRO scale (roughly equivalent to an F4 on the Fujita scale) making it one of the strongest recorded tornadoes in the British Isles, alongside the 1666 Lincolnshire tornado,[3] although this estimate is based on reports written 30 years later.[4]
The church of St Mary-le-Bow in the city of London was badly damaged; four rafters 26 feet (7.9 m) long were driven into the ground so that only 4 feet (1.2 m) protruded above the surface.[4] Other nearby churches were demolished by the tornado, as were over 600 mostly wooden houses. For all the damage, there were just two known fatalities in a population of about 18,000.[4][3][5] The tornado is mentioned in chronicles by Florence of Worcester and William of Malmesbury, the latter describing it as "a great spectacle for those watching from afar, but a terrifying experience for those standing near".[3]
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