Terrified screams as New Forest ‘tornado’ shakes homes and tears down walls with freak 80mph blast

FRANTIC homeowners screamed as a "tornado" shook homes and tore down walls in an 80mph blast overnight.

The noise of the wind woke terrified residents of Barton-on-Sea, Hampshire, up at 4am as roof tiles and fence panels were pulled off.

A 300-yard path was reportedly carved through rows of New Forest homes on Seaward Avenue, Sea Road and Keysworth Avenue.

Dave Thorne, 66, said: "We were woken at around 4am and it was like a sci-fi movie. There was an almighty crash, it sounded like Armageddon was going on outside.

"It went very quickly from just normal storm and wind noise to sounding like a freight train was hitting our window.

"There was a loud crack and the whole house felt like it was buffering.

"Our bedroom windows have been pushed in, the UPVC support structures are broken and we have fence and roof damage.

"We'll have to pay to for a new fence and we have people from the insurance company coming round later about the other damage.

"The main thing is that nobody was injured as far as we know but it was really scary while it was going on."

Just last month a family feared for their lives as a freak tornado smashed into 20 homes in Surrey.

'TORNADO' FEARS

A spokesman for the Met Office said: "We cannot say definitely if a tornado formed or not. The weather conditions at this time were conducive to the formation of funnel clouds or tornadoes.

"Around 30 tornadoes a year are reported in the UK. These are typically small and short-lived, but can cause structural damage if they pass over built-up areas."

The strength of the winds of up to 80mph shook numerous houses, sending roof tiles smashing to the ground.

A 30ft long brick wall collapsed under the strength of the gusts while fence panels were flung through the air.

Part of a garden shed that had been picked up by the tornado smashed a hole through the windscreen of a car.

I would say it is probable there was one here and the the type of damage reported is consistent with weak, low level tornadoes.

Paul Knightley

Radar images taken at the time suggest the damage was caused by a tornado, and it has been reported to Torro - The UK's leading tornado and storm research group.

Among their ranks is weather forecaster Paul Knightley, who works for DTN Weather - the organisation behind the BBC's forecasts.

Mr Knightley said: "There were big and heavy showers at the time in question and the damage reported does tie up.

"When damage is in a clear track - as appears to be the case here - it is more often than not the result of a tornado.

"I would say it is probable there was one here and the the type of damage reported is consistent with weak, low level tornadoes.

"It's impossible to say what the exact wind speeds were at the time but my guess would be between 50mph and 80mph."

Annette O'Flynn said: "Our garden shed was totally demolished in Seaward Avenue. It felt like the whole house moved and it was very scary."

Stephen Maskell said: "We were woken by something which sounded like an express train thundering past the house and gravel hitting the windows.

"It bought down our front fence including snapping a concrete post in half, breaking ridge tiles on the roof and dislodging tiles. It was very scary indeed."