Intense hailstorm and tornado hit West Yorkshire, England
A severe thunderstorm brought hail and tornado to West Yorkshire, England, on Thursday, September 24, 2020. Parts of the county were 10 cm (4 inches) deep in ice or sleet as accumulated hail blanketed roads.
According to Met Desk, there was a possible supercell in the East Riding of Yorkshire, heading northeast on Thursday. It warned of lightning, strong winds, and hail in the area.
A sudden hailstorm occurred before 16:00 UTC (17:00 LT), resulting in a winter-like scene in parts of Yorkshire. Up to 10 cm (4 inches) of accumulated ice blanketed the streets, with users describing that it "looks like snow, but was an inch of hail."
Netweather meteorologist Jo Farrow said an Atlantic low is "throwing further bands of showers" along with "strengthening winds" late this week, adding that colder air "brings the risk of frost, even wintriness in showers over the highest northern peaks."
Freak hail storm hit parts of NE England this afternoon – my mate near Leeds sent me these photos as he battled to stop his house getting flooded cc @Schafernaker @MetMattTaylor @Lauratobin1 pic.twitter.com/x3JcQF7arQ
— James Reynolds (@EarthUncutTV) September 24, 2020
North of Leeds tonight. Sleet and snow 4 inches deep pic.twitter.com/ifWV1MXmCI
— Richard Ford (@Le_Captain) September 24, 2020
We are unlikely to see hail storms like yesterday. These are @BBCWthrWatchers pictures from Yorkshire taken on Thursday. #ukweather pic.twitter.com/bXZD7BG0K0
— BBC Weather (@bbcweather) September 25, 2020
Hail like I’ve never seen it! #yorkshire #guiseley #leeds #storm #lightning #thunder pic.twitter.com/NrqK410HyD
— Sam Griggs (@OrganicWomble) September 24, 2020
@UKWX_ Now that was some storm ..Baildon West Yorkshire pic.twitter.com/Stm64ESB7Z
— Richard Ward (@Richard59054495) September 24, 2020
About an hour after the hailstorm, a small tornado was spotted swirling towards Ilkley Moor. A resident named Carol Vaughan was able to capture the event, calling it a "surprising sight." She continued, "I was amazed to see one in our area."
The twister was relatively small and did not cause any damage. According to the Met Office, around 30 tornadoes are reported every year in the UK, and issuing a tornado warning is very rare.
Can we blame Boris, Hancock, Raab, Dido Harding, Vallance & Whitty for this bizarre weather in Yorkshire tonight? #hail #snow #Thunderstorms #rain #flooding pic.twitter.com/LocczdOOIz
— Candy Bows Hair Bows (@CandyBows) September 24, 2020
So, this was the view from my window in Yorkshire at tea time today. Hail coming down with real force and settling like snow. Weird at this time of year. pic.twitter.com/X0iJR0dSJB
— Caroline@CraftyArts (@CarrieAnne001) September 24, 2020
Parts of Yorkshire have experienced storms and heavy hail this afternoon – this was the scene in Guiseley. pic.twitter.com/R5rzfTfb0B
— BBC Yorkshire (@BBCLookNorth) September 24, 2020
4-15pm to 4-45pm in Yorkshire
Looks like snow but was an inch of hail. pic.twitter.com/CjIY0xfP66— Tubsturtle. (@tubsturtle) September 24, 2020
Featured image credit: Sam Griggs
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