A severe weather system has unleashed chaos across southern England, with confirmed tornadoes and massive hail stones the size of golf balls battering the counties of Hampshire, Sussex, and Surrey.
The Met Office had issued an urgent amber warning for thunderstorms, which predicted the potential for power cuts, property damage, and travel disruption. This warning proved prescient as social media was quickly flooded with videos and images of the devastating aftermath.
Destructive Hail and Confirmed Tornadoes
Residents reported an extraordinary meteorological event. The storm produced incredibly large hailstones, with many witnesses comparing them to golf balls. This onslaught led to widespread damage to vehicles, solar panels, and greenhouses, with countless windows smashed by the icy barrage.
More alarmingly, the TORRO (Tornado and Storm Research Organisation) confirmed that at least two tornadoes had touched down. One was reported in the Horsham area of West Sussex, with another striking near the Hampshire-Surrey border, highlighting the intense severity of the storm cell.
Social Media Captures the Chaos
The power of the storm was captured in real-time by locals. One widely-shared video from Hampshire showed a relentless downpour of huge hailstones completely blanketing roads and gardens in a matter of minutes, turning the landscape into a wintry scene. Other footage from Sussex revealed the moment a tornado funnel cloud descended, stirring up debris and causing visible damage.
These firsthand accounts provided crucial evidence for meteorologists and painted a vivid picture of the storm's ferocity for the rest of the nation.
Ongoing Warnings and Safety Advice
As the clean-up operation begins in the hardest-hit areas, the Met Office continues to advise vigilance. The public is urged to stay updated on weather warnings and to take precautions. During such storms, it is recommended to:
- Avoid travelling if possible.
- Seek shelter inside a sturdy building.
- Stay away from windows.
- Secure loose objects outside your home that could be thrown by strong winds.
This event serves as a stark reminder of the UK's vulnerability to increasingly extreme and volatile weather patterns, prompting discussions about preparedness for similar events in the future.
