The strongest storms of the year so far occurred in Styria on Tuesday. While the Weiz district suffered heavy flooding, Graz was hit by a small tornado. How could this happen in the middle of the city? And are these types of air vortices becoming more common? A meteorologist provides information.
Many people in Graz could hardly believe their eyes on Tuesday: in the evening a small tornado brewed over the city. It originated above the Plabutsch and spread across the districts of western Graz – for example, it was clearly visible in Eggenberg.
However, this dangerous natural spectacle is not as unusual in this country as you might think, says Christoph Matella, meteorologist at Ubimet. He even calls the area around Graz a ‘tornado hotspot’ compared to Austria. “There are three to five tornadoes per year throughout Austria,” the expert explains. What was quite unusual was that it formed over the city area, which attracted many spectators.
Tornado over Wiener Neustadt claimed 34 lives
However, the number of Austrian tornadoes is compared internationally. About 1,200 storms of this type are recorded in the US every year, sometimes with serious consequences. The most destructive Austrian tornado to date struck Wiener Neustadt in 1916, killing at least 34 people. In 2021, a dangerous air vortex on the border with Lower Austria also claimed several lives.
However, these strong tornadoes differ significantly from those in Graz in terms of their wind speed. “Strong tornadoes like those in the US have speeds of more than 200 km/h. “There’s not much that can hold up and there are bits of debris being thrown around,” Matella explains. The one above the Styrian capital probably only reached 100 km/h and caused only minor damage, such as fallen trees and loose roof tiles. After a few minutes the silence returned.
In their formation, two types of tornadoes can also be distinguished. More intense storms are caused by so-called supercells. So they are the result of extremely charged storms. “Type two tornadoes form during wind convergences,” Matella explains. On Tuesday evening, winds collided from different directions and the clouds hung particularly low, making conditions optimal.
Could air vortices like the one above Graz become more common? That cannot yet be said definitively, not even in connection with climate change, says the meteorologist. “Tornadoes occur very locally and irregularly,” Matella explains. “But sightings are increasing because everyone has a smartphone.” In the best case, the next storm is not expected so soon: although the week remains unstable in Styria, storms like Tuesday’s are not expected.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
