A tornado formed this morning in the middle of the morning on Monday, July 21 in the town of Tours
A tornado Was observed this Monday July 21 towards 10h21 at the airport Toursin Indre-et-Loire.
The phenomenon developed under a stormy convective cellwhich was initiated around 8 am local in the neighboring department of Maine-et-Loire. Analysis of Doppler radar images (see animation below) shows that this cell has gradually developed a mesocyclone on its western flank, by adopting the characteristics of a supercellule dite “LT” (“Low topped”). We designate stormy cells whose main food column has a lasting rotation, within a structure whose summits are relatively low (majority scenario in unstable situations of cold air mass, as is the case this July 21).
The radar animation below highlights the rapid transit of this storm cell from west to east. The associated rotation seems to have concentrated and reinforced when it approached the city of Tours, which was concerned on its northern part. The tornado was observed at that time, During the storm transit at Tours Airport – Loire Valley.
The tornado mainly caused Damage to vegetation (branches torn off), but the inventory of damage remains incomplete for the moment. A survey is open in order to precisely determine theintensity and the path of the phenomenon.
The two radar images below show in detail the structure of the stormy cell during its tornado phase, near Tours. L’image Doppler highlights the zone de rotation associated with this LT supercell, with the presence of a characteristic radial speed dipole.
And Witness was able to film The event from the airport (Video Benjamin Besnard). We can clearly see the cyclonic rotation Associated with the tornado, as well as debris projections:
This tornado has formed in a Strongly cylonic flowlinked to the passage of a minimum d’altitude on England. There cold drop partner (-19 ° C at 500 hpa) has extended to the center of France in the form of a Thermal thalweg Well pronounced (below on the left). The whole has passed on the northern flank of a jet branch then positioned on the southern half of France.
Maintaining a Soft and very humid air In low layers (theta’w close to 15 ° C at 850 hpa, below on the left) generated unstable air mass profileswith punctually up to 1,000 d/kg of Mucape in the morning in the Center region, with mui close to -3 k (below right).
