1764 Woldegk tornado
A copper engraving by Gottlob Burchard Genzmer showing the tornado
Meteorological history
Duration60 minutes
Date29 June 1764
F5 tornado
on the Fujita scale
T11 tornado
on the TORRO scale
Highest winds>480 km/h (300 mph) [lower-alpha 1]
Largest hail15 centimetres (5.9 in)[1]
Overall effects
Fatalities1
Injuries3
Areas affectedaround Woldegk, Duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Holy Roman Empire (now Germany)

The 1764 Woldegk tornado was one of the strongest tornadoes ever documented in history, receiving the unique T11 rating on the TORRO scale along with an F5 rating on the Fujita scale and had winds estimated to be more than 480 kilometres per hour (300 mph).[1][2] The tornado traveled 30 kilometres (19 mi) and reached a maximum width of 900 metres (980 yd). Most of the information known about this tornado came from a 77-paragraph detailed study by German scientist Gottlob Burchard Genzmer, which was published one year after the tornado occurred.[3][4] The tornado completely destroyed several structures, and several tree branches were believed to have been thrown into the atmosphere. Many areas were covered with up to 2 centimetres (0.79 in) of ice.[2] The storm which produced the violent tornado was dry, with almost no rain reported. Large hail, reportedly reaching 15 centimetres (5.9 in) in diameter covered the ground, caused significant crop and property damage, killed dozens of animals, and injured multiple people in a large stretch around the tornado and to the northwest of the tornado's path.[3][1]

Tornado summary

The tornado touched down at F2 intensity about 1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi) southwest of Feldberg, and uprooted oak trees and beech trees. The tornado escalated into F2–F3 intensity as it threw two children, who survived, into a lake. Several geese were "smashed" by hail around this time as well, and the tornado grew to a width of about 100 metres (110 yd).[2] Continuing northeast, the tornado crossed a lake and was spotted by an eyewitness, who described it as a "wedge tornado". The eyewitness also mentioned that the lake's water level rose in what was likely a seiche and then retreated around the time of the tornado.[2] After crossing the lake, the tornado struck a home where the roof was blown away, and the walls were blown down. This is where the only fatality from the tornado occurred.[2]

The tornado shifted east-northeast as it narrowed to a width of 45 metres (49 yd). As the tornado reached its smallest width, still maintaining F3 intensity, a possible twin or satellite waterspout merged with the tornado along the shore of Lake Luzin.[2] Immediately after the merge, the tornado changed direction to almost due north and intensified to F3–F4 intensity as it completely destroyed a beech timber forest.[2] After destroying the forest, the tornado reached a width of 225 metres (246 yd), snapped and uprooted several solitary oak trees, throwing them 35 metres (38 yd) into the air.[2] Soil drifting, known today as ground scouring, occurred at this time. Crops, grass and 10 centimetres (3.9 in) of topsoil were removed.[2] After scouring the ground, the tornado turned northeast, where it completely destroyed Lichtenberg Forest. The European Severe Storms Laboratory noted this damage was worse than the previous forestry damage.[2]

A copper plate by Genzmer showing various types of forestry damage caused by the tornado

The tornado increased in severity as it debarked an oak tree at F4 intensity. Shortly after debarking the tree, the tornado reached its peak intensity. A mansion with an adjacent dairy farm was completely wiped out except for the mansion's ground floor. Oak tree stubs were ripped out of the ground, and cobblestones weighing 75 kilograms (165 lb) were thrown.[2][1] The European Severe Storms Laboratory stated the incredible damage at the mansion warranted the rating of F5/T11 with estimated windspeeds of at least 480 km/h (300 mph).[1][2][5] An eyewitness who saw the tornado at this time stated the experience as being "surrounded by birds trapped in the vortex".[2] After destroying the mansion, the tornado quickly weakened to F1 and left a 500-metre (550 yd) wide path of light damage in a forest.

The tornado then rapidly intensified again as it struck Rothe Kirche. Here, an old oak tree was uprooted, which lifted a skeleton out of a grave at F3 intensity.[2] Around this time, the tornado reached its maximum width of 900 metres (980 yd) as it caused severe damage to an oak and beech tree forest. The tornado then continued northeast, passing just west of Woldegk, where it damaged a mansion, tore apart two barns, and overturned seven dung carts at F2–F3 intensity. Further to the northeast, the tornado struck an airborne flock of geese, killing some and injuring 60–100 geese.[2] Isolated tree damage was seen around this time as well. The tornado then struck Helpt at F2 intensity, where a mansion and another structure sustained roof damage, as well as the upper floor being removed from a gatehouse. After striking Helpt, the tornado dissipated.[2]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ The Fujita scale begins the F5 rating at 261 mph (420 km/h), however, since the tornado was rated T11 on the TORRO scale, the windspeeds must be at least 480 km/h (300 mph)

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "June 29, 1764 German F5/T11 Tornado". European Severe Weather Database. European Severe Storms Laboratory. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Bernold Feuerstein; Thilo Kühne (September 2015). "A violent tornado in mid-18th century Germany: the Genzmer Report". ECSS 2015 - European Conference on Severe Storms at: Wiener Neustadt, Austria. European Severe Storms Laboratory. 8. doi:10.13140/RG.2.1.3733.8085. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  3. 1 2 Gottlob Burchard Genzmer (June 9, 2005). "Beschreibung des Orcans, welcher den 29. Jun. 1764 einen Strich von etlichen Meilen im Stargardischen Kreise des Herzogthums Mecklenburg gewaltig verwüstet hat" (PDF) (in German). Archived from the original (PDF) on October 31, 2005. Retrieved June 25, 2013.
  4. ↑ Strüber, Henning. "Der Jahrtausendtornado von Woldegk vom 29. Juni 1764". Norddeutscher Rundfunk. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
  5. ↑ "Tornado de Woldegk de 1764: el más fuerte de la historia". Vista al Mar. 20 May 2023. Retrieved 28 May 2023.


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