Severe thunderstorm, unconfirmed tornado hits Barking, east London, UK
Image credit: IMRANO
A severe storm brought heavy rain and an unconfirmed tornado to Barking, east London around 19:00 LT on June 25, 2021. There are no reports of any casualties but the damage is significant.
According to local media reports, the storm damaged the roofs of dozens of homes, electrical equipment, cars and trees, and collapsed garden walls in Hulse Avenue and some surrounding roads in the Barking area.
"This is a weather related incident, during which there was a lightning strike," the Metropolitan Police for Barking and Dagenham said.
"In addition to the lightning strike, we have seen reports of a tornado but cannot confirm this. There are no reports of any casualties. Officers are liaising with the local authority to ensure support is available to anyone affected by damage to property."
The UK Met Office forecaster Matthew Box said that it's probable that a brief tornado did occur.
Heavy rain brought by the storm caused flash flooding over a much wider area of east London.
Significant damage in #Barking, Essex this evening; I’m seeing rotating clouds suggesting an isolated local #tornado potential here. #ukweather https://t.co/uxad6VjANI
— WEATHER/ METEO WORLD (@StormchaserUKEU) June 25, 2021
Tornado in Barking, wth!! pic.twitter.com/Y5HaRJKyM7
— Yamin321 (@yaminasfa) June 25, 2021
Just experienced a #tornado in #Barking, east London. Dozens of cars and homes damaged. Police and fire crews on the scene. Very scary indeed. pic.twitter.com/fNm9BmaA4D
— Kiran Bhangal (@KiranSkyNews) June 25, 2021
Biblical scenes in #Barking #tornado pic.twitter.com/S2z5eGFc8e
— Mike Stevens (@MrMikeStanton) June 25, 2021
Severe flooding in Dagenham Essex #Barking #Tornado pic.twitter.com/kBnEgczrXH
— Fzc77 (@fzc22) June 25, 2021
So tonight Ne London and Essex looked like that got some severe weather tonight.
So this is what I saw many miles away #Barking #Essex #thunderstorm pic.twitter.com/aKr7c2Pg5o— Luke (@luketaplin42) June 25, 2021
Teo Blašković founded The Watchers in 2011 and edited it until 2026, covering seismic and volcanic activity, extreme weather, space weather and near-Earth objects. Articles on this page are his archive.
