When people think of tornadoes, they often picture the towering, destructive twisters that sweep across the central United States.
While the US is indeed home to some of the most powerful tornadoes on Earth, the UK is no stranger to these swirling columns of air. In fact, the UK experiences more tornadoes per square kilometre than the US, making it an unexpected hotspot for these dramatic weather events.
What is a tornado?
A tornado is a rapidly rotating column of air that extends from the base of a thunderstorm cloud, typically a cumulonimbus, down to the Earth’s surface. These spinning columns form under very unsettled weather conditions, often during severe thunderstorms. When winds at different altitudes blow at varying speeds or directions, a vortex of rotating air can develop. If this vortex stretches and strengthens enough to reach the ground, it becomes a tornado.
Tornadoes typically appear as funnel-shaped clouds, although they can also take on rope-like forms or be nearly invisible, identifiable only by the debris they lift from the ground. In the Northern Hemisphere, they usually spin anticlockwise.
Tornado frequency in the UK
Despite its relatively calm reputation, the UK sees around 30 tornadoes reported each year. England, in particular, has one of the highest tornado densities in the world. A study by the University of Manchester found that England averages about 2.2 tornadoes per 10,000 square kilometres annually, higher than the US average of 1.3.
While UK tornadoes are typically small and short-lived, they are more common than many people realise. Most have estimated wind speeds of up to 72 mph, placing them in the T0 or T1 categories on the TORRO scale, a UK-developed system that classifies tornadoes based on wind speed.
Tornado hotspots in the UK
The UK has its own versions of “Tornado Alley.” The research from Manchester University has also identified three main regions where tornadoes are most likely to occur:
- South-central England, particularly the area between Reading and London, with a peak near Guildford.
- A corridor from Bristol through Birmingham to Manchester.
- Parts of Essex and Suffolk.
These hotspots are partly due to population density, more people means more chances for tornadoes to be observed and reported, but they also reflect genuine meteorological patterns.
READ MORE: Why has it been so warm and humid recently?
When and how tornadoes occur in the UK
Unlike the US, where tornadoes are most common in spring, UK tornadoes can occur at any time of year. That said, summer and autumn tend to see the highest numbers. During the warmer months, tornadoes often form from isolated thunderstorms. In the cooler months, they are more likely to develop along narrow bands of storm activity associated with active cold fronts.
A recent example occurred on 23 January 2025, when a tornado struck near Newquay in Cornwall. It formed along a cold front linked to Storm Eowyn, which brought intense winds and heavy rain to the region, demonstrating how UK tornadoes can emerge even in the depths of winter.
One of the most significant tornado outbreaks in UK history occurred on 23 November 1981. As a powerful cold front swept southeast across England and Wales, more than 100 tornadoes were reported in just over five hours. This event remains the largest recorded tornado outbreak in both the UK and Europe.
How UK tornadoes compare to those in the US
While the UK may have a higher tornado density per square kilometre, the tornadoes themselves are generally much weaker than those in the US. American tornadoes, particularly those in Tornado Alley, can exceed 2 miles (3.2 km) in width, travel over 60 miles (100 km), and reach wind speeds over 300 mph (480 km/h). These powerful tornadoes often form from supercell thunderstorms and can cause widespread devastation.
In contrast, UK tornadoes are usually 20 to 100 metres wide, last only a few minutes, and travel short distances. Most fall into the lower categories of the TORRO scale and are barely noticed, although rare exceptions exist. The deadliest, in South Wales in 1913, resulted in five fatalities. The costliest, however, was the Birmingham tornado of July 2005, which lasted around 10 minutes, injured 39 people, and caused an estimated £40 million in damage along its 11 km path.
READ MORE: What role does convection play in weather?
Heard reports about tornadoes over recent days?
— Met Office (@metoffice) July 22, 2025
Did you know that the UK has one of the highest numbers of tornadoes per land area in the world?
Get ready to be blown away by the video below... https://t.co/a6M4hr4l0V
Tornadoes in the UK may not match the scale of those in the US, but they are more common than many realise. From their surprising frequency to their unique hotspots, British tornadoes are a fascinating part of our weather landscape. Understanding how they form and where they occur helps us stay informed and prepared for these rare but impactful events.
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