Extensive damage reported after suspected tornado hits Guadeloupe
A suspected tornado caused structural damage in Baie-Mahault, Guadeloupe, on May 4, 2025, with impacts concentrated in the Belcourt neighborhood. No fatalities have been reported.
Extensive damage reported after suspected tornado hits Guadeloupe on Sunday, April 4, 2025. Credit: RS
A suspected tornado struck the Belcourt neighborhood of Baie-Mahault, Guadeloupe, at approximately 15:00 local time on May 4, resulting in significant structural damage.
The vortex, not yet officially classified as a tornado by meteorological authorities, caused extensive material damage, including torn roofs, uprooted trees, and debris scattered across residential streets.
Emergency services were deployed to assist residents and initiate damage assessments. No fatalities or critical injuries were reported.
The event developed under a wet and unstable air mass that affected the island throughout the day, producing up to 80 mm (3.15 inches) of rainfall in six hours in the Jarry sector. In response, the French meteorological service issued an Orange Alert for heavy rainfall and thunderstorms, warning that accumulations could exceed 80 mm (3.15 inches) within three hours, increasing the risk of flash floods.
Visual evidence shared online shows scenes consistent with tornadic wind damage, including overturned vehicles and disrupted infrastructure.
Meteorologists are continuing to analyze available data to determine whether the phenomenon meets the criteria for tornado classification.
French authorities are conducting a full assessment of the impact.
Tornadoes are extremely rare in Guadeloupe, where the region is far more accustomed to tropical storms and hurricanes. While the island experiences tropical systems every few years and major hurricanes roughly every 15 years, tornado-like events are uncommon.
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.
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