Too Close for Comfort: Tornado Video from Milan, Italy Yesterday

From the "Don't Try This At Home" Department, incredible video of a tornado passing overhead or very nearby the videographer in the Trezzo region of Milan, Italy yesterday.

Due to the relative rarity of such an event in this region, it is quite possible that the videographer didn't realize the danger involved in what he was doing.  All disclaimers aside, the video is very impressive and an excellent educational tool.



The whistling sound that you hear beginning about midway through the video is the sound of the wind racing through the "air tight" windows of the commercial building.  About the same time the whistling begins, you'll see a transformer explode outside the window.

I could not embed the video in any other way other than landscape mode, so be sure to click the "full screen" button in the lower right hand corner to view the entire image.



Below is another video of the same tornado from far enough away such that you can actually see the condensation funnel:

According to media reports, 12 people were injured.

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Tornadoes Strike Florida on Monday, December 10, 2012

Tornadoes struck the "sunshine" state of Florida last Monday afternoon, December 10th.  One was captured on video near Edgewater: 

This tornado was rated EF-1 intensity by the National Weather Service (NWS), with estimated winds of 95-110 mph and a path length of approximately 1 mile.  The maximum damage width was approximately 150 yards.  Damage was focused in the Terra Mar Village with approximately 40 mobile homes damaged.  Power lines were downed and numerous trees were snapped or uprooted in the area.

Another tornado touched down near Apopka in Orange County.  It later turned into a waterspout over Lake Apopka.  A YouTube video of this tornado is shown below:

As no damage was found, an EF intensity rating was not assigned to the Apopka tornado.

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If you are in need of highly customized, site specific weather forecasts and/or storm warnings for your business, school or event, be sure visit my professional webpage at WeatherGuidance.com.

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The Tornado Chronicles: Breezy Point, Coney Island, NYC, Brooklyn Tornadoes of 9-8-12...

At least two tornadoes, the first beginning as a waterspout off of Coney Island, struck the Brooklyn area of southeast New York City on Saturday morning, September 8th.



Here is the first picture that came in from Coney Island near the New York Aquarium (taken by Charlie Hoxie, via twitter).  The vortex could have been a waterspout at this point, but that is not completely clear:

...and here is another perspective, also from Coney Island (photographer unknown, via twitter):

A video was posted on YouTube, reportedly from Breezy Point, which is very near the same area as above (video by Roy Currlin via YouTube).  You can clearly see damage being done at about 2:35 into the video:

Here is another video from Breezy Point, from the "don't try this at home" department (they are way too close to the tornado, but the video is spectacular).  WARNING:  bad language right off the top and again toward the end:

The National Weather Service (NWS) in New York City has completed a survey of the Breezy Point tornado and rated it EF-0, with maximum winds estimated at 70 mph.  The survey indicates that the tornado began as a waterspout at the New York Harbor entrance and then moved onshore at the Breezy Point Surf Club.  It was on the ground for approximately 200 yards before lifting near Rockaway Inlet.



Photos then started coming in from the Brooklyn area itself, first along Flatbush Avenue near the King's Plaza Shopping Center (photographer unknown, via twitter):

The following video appears to have been taken near the same time that the above photo near Kings Plaza.  Warning - bad language:

...and this one shows the tornado as it crossed Port Gerritsen Beach, which is between Kings Plaza and the JFK Airport:

A photo then emerged along the Belt Parkway heading toward JFK Airport (taken by Zack Rosenthal, via twitter):

Here is a video from the same vicinity:

The NWS has completed the damage survey of the Brooklyn tornado, and rated it EF-1 intensity, with maximum winds estimated at 110 mph.  I am working on some damage photos and videos and will post those soon.

So far, most of the damage reports have consisted of trees and power lines down, limbs down, etc.  Based on that video near Breezy Point, it seems that some structural damage was likely in that area.  I'll be watching for further information as it comes forward.

This post will be updated throughout the day and weekend as additional photos, video and information becomes available, so if you have an interest in this event, please bookmark the post and check back from time to time...

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International Tornadoes This Week: Italy and Poland

I've come across two International tornado videos from earlier this week.



The first was a very impressive tornado/waterspout near Venice, Italy (above), which took place on Tuesday, June 12th.



The second (below) took place on June 11th near Sulechow, Poland (which is in far western Poland near the German border):

I have not seen any reports of significant damage or injuries in association with either of the tornadoes, which is certainly good news.

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