Tornado hits Barton-on-Sea

Residents have reported damaged gardens and fences but this is restricted to a small area around Sea Road and Seaward Avenue.

This comes after the Met Office said this is not linked to Storm Brendan in any way.

BBC Weather presenter and meteorologist tweeted photographs from members of the public of the reported tornado, he said that eyewitness reports claimed “it sounded like a freight train” with damaged windows and garden fencing. He added that the weather radar would support it:

🌪️ Hearing reports from a caller to @BBCRadioSolent of a possible #tornado in Barton on Sea and Ashley (Hampshire) early this morning. Eye witness reports it 'sounding like a freight train' with damaged windows and garden fencing.

Radar from around 4am would support it… pic.twitter.com/4zHLdXbEmZ

— Simon King (@SimonOKing) January 17, 2020

🌪️ Some pictures from the reported #tornado in Hampshire this morning… https://t.co/BJqzjvtKIy

— Simon King (@SimonOKing) January 17, 2020

A Met Office spokesperson said that while a tornado is possible to be the cause, it is equally likely that it was simply a strong gust of wind. The Met Office also wanted to clarify that the adverse weather conditions of late are not linked to Storm Brendan but have just been wet and windy days, that we in the UK are quite used to.

She added: “However, I can say that the weather conditions at the time were conducive to the formation of funnel clouds or tornadoes (a funnel cloud that reaches the ground), a strong gust of wind can also damage the fence.” The Met Office also commented that around 30 tornadoes a year are reported in the UK. However, they mostly tend to be small and short lived, but can “cause structural damage if they pass over built up areas.”

Buzz News spoke to local residents as well as the local Methodist Church, and neither reported any disturbance from the ‘tornado’. Other local businesses stated there was damage to Sea Road. Barton Councillor Allan O’Sullivan, stated that while the tornado is not a normal occurrence, he had not heard of anyone being affected by it.