Tornado strikes Aldershot in Hampshire – bringing down trees, damaging buildings
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A tornado has struck Aldershot in Hampshire terrifying residents and leaving a trail of destruction.
According to the Storm Research Organisation (TORRO) – a private research body – it ranked between one and two (between mild and moderate) out of a maximum of 10 on a scale of intensity.
A moderate tornado is ranked as having wind speeds of up to 92mph, although the speeds still need to be verified.
Footage from Aldershot – which borders Surrey – showed intense swirling winds and pictures of downed trees and damaged buildings, with tiles dislodged, roofs ripped off and collapsed chimneys.
Sarah Horton, a site investigator for TORRO, told Sky News: “The preliminary estimated path length is 2km. The tornado was weak, but we haven’t given it a final rating yet. It is an estimated T1/T2 rating.”
She added: “Although it was a weak tornado… for those affected, it will have been a frightening and damaging event.
“Householders will be trying to get their homes watertight before heavy rain arrives. The Met Office has a severe weather warning for heavy rain on Sunday.”
Forecasters have also issued a second yellow warning – but for thunderstorms – covering a 23-hour period, from 1am until midnight on Saturday.
Amrita Mann, 35, a mum-of-two who captured footage on her doorbell camera, told Sky News her front door suddenly flew open “sending a gush of wind through my house” causing her conservatory doors to also burst open.
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Ms Mann said: “It took both me and my daughter by surprise, causing her to cry. I ran to close it and could see debris flying across the pavement.
“I went back to settle my daughter and the next minute I see the tree in front of my house had been struck by lightning and come down.
“It was all very scary but my neighbours were amazing and they called upon friends who got the fallen trees cleared.”
According to TORRO, the tornado struck around lunchtime and was around 140m at its widest point.
