This is a real story that not many of you will be familiar with, but continue reading to learn more about this extraordinary occurrence that happened in 1091. It was important not just because there was a tornado in London, but also because of its strength.
In fact, not everyone is aware that England is known as the “Land of the Tornadoes.” Approximately 30 to 50 tornadoes occur annually in the air, with the area between London and Reading being the most vulnerable. Fortunately, the most majority of them are little, but there are always exceptions to any rule.
The morning of October 17th, 1091, appeared to be routine, and no one anticipated a massive tornado. Not just any, but the most powerful one you can recall as well. In reality, according to the Fujita scale, it was most likely an F4 or perhaps an F5. With gusts up to 370 kilometres per hour, it was quite damaging!
The whole city of London was made of wood, or virtually entirely of wood. A few masonry churches were scattered around the area, with the exception of the White Tower of the Tower of London, which was just approximately 10 years old. A whirlwind of this magnitude swept away practically everything.
Including the London Bridge, which was partially demolished by the storm but was also carried away by the river of the Thames at the time. It was still relatively young, having been constructed by William the Conqueror shortly after 1066.
The roof of St Mary-le-church Bow’s was forcefully launched a considerable distance, causing significant damage. A great deal of power was used, and the nine-meter-long beams were pushed into the earth, leaving barely approximately one-tenth of a metre outside. The river inundated the surrounding region, and just a few structures were left standing as a result.
The London Bridge, the principal bridge linking London with the southern portions of the nation, was reconstructed shortly after the fire. The replacement bridge was likewise only around for a short time, since it was destroyed by fire in 1140. The Great London Tornado is the name given to this tornado in memory of the city of London.
