August 2008 European tornado outbreak


The August 2008 European tornado outbreak was a widespread severe weather event which spawned thirteen tornadoes in four countries, one of which killed three people in France. This particular tornado reached F4 intensity.

Meteorological synopsis

On August 3, several areas of low pressure developed. Frontal systems extended from one of the lows, stretching from the Azores to the Germany coastline.

Confirmed tornadoes

August 3 event

August 4 event

Hautmont tornado

The tornado initially touched down outside the city of Pont-sur-Sambre, initially causing damage ranging from F0 to F1 in intensity. The tornado then moved through a corn field at 20:28 UTC in the northern part of the town, causing damages to power lines and roofs of buildings. The storm rapidly strengthened immediately after hitting Pont-sur-Sambre, reaching F2-F3 strength just about 2 km from the point of touchdown. At the 20:31 UTC the storm caused serious damage to some rural brick homes, one of which was completely leveled to the ground at F4 strength, and the other sustaining F2 damage. With winds in excess of 300 km / h, the tornado reached a forested area, debarking or uprooting all the trees in a radius of 150 m. Then the tornado struck the city of Hautmont, severely damaging or flattening multiple brick homes and structures in town, killing 3 people and injuring 18 others. Multiple cars were picked up and thrown hundreds of meters, some of which were hurled into buildings. All the houses and buildings within a radius of 500m sustaining varying degrees of damage. Small objects from town were also found tens of kilometers away.
At 20:35 the storm arrived in Maubeuge, causing damage of F2 and F1 strength, destroying a church tower and damaging many other buildings. At 20:40 the tornado began to shrink in size and strength, causing F0 damage to some trees and structures before finally dissipating at 20:42 not far from the border of Belgium.
The tornado remained on the ground for about 14 minutes with a displacement speed of about 40–50 km/h and winds that have exceeded 300 km / h along a total path of 18.7 km, killing 3 people and damaging about 1000 buildings with a width of 150m-200m.