In recent days, Italy has been hit by an unusually high number of tornadoes – a dramatic video (see above) shows the destructive power of such a phenomenon on a beach in Basilicata. Apparently, you will have to get used to this sight in the future.
Video from Monday afternoon shows the cyclone “landing” on the popular beach of Marina di Nova Siri in Italy’s Basilicata region. The tornado literally sent sun loungers and umbrellas flying, causing panic and confusion among those present, Italian media reported.
Warning for beach holidaymakers
Shortly before, lightning struck the sea just a few metres from the beach – the explosive storm situation put the swimmers who had sought refuge in the lido in great danger. In addition, it rained more than 50 mm per square metre in a short time: “If a thunderstorm approaches, you must leave the beaches!”, warns the website “MeteOne Puglia e Basilicata”.
The recent accident off Sicily has made clear how dramatic an encounter with a waterspout can be: the 54-metre luxury sailing yacht Bayesian sank at sea on Monday. So far, one body has been recovered, fifteen others are still missing.
The incident in Basilicata was at least less tragic – fortunately there were no reports of injuries. It was only shortly after the windpipe landed that it disappeared again. But videos of impressive waterspouts were also shared on social media from other regions in southern Italy.
This video shows a tornado filmed near Salento:
Warm sea is like a “gas tank”
The week-long heatwave in the Mediterranean is said to be encouraging the formation of tornadoes. “The warm sea seems pleasant, but from a physics point of view, heat is energy,” meteorologist Paolo Sottocorona told the Daily Mail. “The Mediterranean is a petrol tank at the moment. If you put a match in it, a stream of cold air like today, it explodes,” explained the expert, who also works as a sailing instructor.
“The warmer the sea, the stronger the tornadoes,” Sottocorona summarizes. Previously, devastating tornadoes occurred every hundred years. “Now we experience one or more per year. Even weather models have difficulty predicting such violent events.” The captain of the Bayesian also had to experience this firsthand: “We didn’t see it coming,” he said shortly after his rescue, after the mega yacht had sunk 50 meters deep.
Mayor after tornado: “Apocalyptic scenario”
The mayor of Santa Flavia, a town near Palermo, was also shocked after seeing a violent waterspout: “I have never experienced anything like this. A tornado that lasted about ten minutes, an apocalyptic scenario.”
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.
