A tornado that ripped through Jersey during Storm Ciaran was likely the strongest in the British Isles for almost 70 years, an investigation has found.

The Tornado and Storm Research Organisation (TORRO) said the wind vortex, which swept in around midnight on Wednesday 1 November, was also “easily” the most powerful ever recorded on the Channel Islands.

It came as Storm Ciaran swept across southern Britain, bringing torrential rain, strong winds and flooding to many areas last week.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Researchers said the tornado was more powerful than the one which tore through Birmingham in 2005 and caused an estimated £40m worth of damage.

It was also “likely” the strongest since a violent, swirling storm smashed through Gunnersbury, west London, in December 1954, TORRO said.

The findings confirm claims by residents who say they witnessed a tornado during the storm, which caused widespread damage to properties across the island.

Windows were smashed, trees felled, roof tiles were ripped off homes and some structures even collapsed.

Wind speeds of 104mph were recorded, with dozens forced to flee their homes. The island’s airport and all schools were also closed.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

TORRO said the tornado was accompanied by frequent lightning and hail when it made landfall at St Clement, on the southeastern coast of the island, at around midnight.

The wind vortex then left a trail of destruction stretching five miles, before it exited the island in the Fliquet area in the northeast.

Read more from Sky News:
Man guilty of setting fire to mosque worshippers
Kidnappers warn release of Luis Diaz’s father at risk
British Steel to shut blast furnaces ‘leaving 2,000 jobs at risk’

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free

Tornados are rated on an international “intensity” scale of T0 to T10, with the latter being the strongest.

Following an investigation on the island over the weekend, TORRO said its researchers had given the Jersey tornado a preliminary score of T6.

It is the highest rating since the T7 given to the event in Gunnersbury in the 1950s, which is said to have lifted a car 15ft into the air, damaged homes and ripped the roof off of the area’s London Underground station.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

“TORRO keeps record of tornadoes for the UK, Republic of Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man,” the organisation said.

“There have only been a few tornadoes of T6 intensity and greater in the last century within the records, and this is easily the strongest on record for the Channel Islands.”

The group said hailstones which fell on Jersey during the storm were also the largest since ice balls of around 5cm were reported on the island in 1983.

Related posts:

Rebel forces move into Tigray regional capital as Ethiopian government calls unilateral ceasefire Sydney remains in lockdown amid ‘national COVID vaccine stockpile’ Two die as fierce storm batters Sicily as emergency crews warn ‘situation critical’ amid floods Pregnant NZ journalist who asked Taliban for help after being locked out of her own country accepts offer to return with place in quarantine Nuclear plant attack proves Russia is ‘threat to European security and stability’, Truss says At least 45 killed in suicide attack at mosque in northern Pakistan Troops on the streets in Sri Lanka after president breaks promise to resign Trump’s credibility ‘unravelled’ after COVID bleach cure claim, top doctor says ‘Do not come to the streets’: Iran’s Revolutionary Guards chief issues warning to protesters Dozens injured in stampede during Halloween festivities in South Korea South Korea scrambles fighter jets after Chinese and Russian warplanes enter air defence zone Hezbollah and Hamas leaders meet as IDF spokesman urges world to ‘rally around Israel’