Severe weather in northern France. A “mini-tornado” fell on Sunday, October 23, on Conty, near Amiens in the Somme, said the prefecture of the department. “Several infrastructures and homes were damaged” on this town and that of Ô-de-Selle, she said, counting “about sixty buildings” in total. ‘No casualties’ not to be deplored, according to the authorities, but “ten households must be relocated” and “Several dozens” others were without electricity.
Imposing tornadic supercell over the south of Pas-de-Calais this Sunday, October 23, seen by its eastern flank from the department of #Northat a time when the #tornado was hitting #Bihucourt. Incessant lightning and mammatus south of the mesocyclone (left in photo). © Keraunos pic.twitter.com/ENxu4SyRQx
— Keraunos (@KeraunosObs) October 23, 2022
⚠️ New images posted on Facebook show considerable damage in the municipality of Conty in the Somme department. A possible #tornado would be at the origin of these destructions. Terrible afternoon in Hauts-de-France.
Credit: Jacky Demarcy pic.twitter.com/kOY6K4KXaL
— Nahel Belgherze (@WxNB_) October 23, 2022
The firefighters of Pas-de-Calais for their part reported“a major meteorological phenomenon located in the municipality of Bihucourt in particular”but also “the municipalities of Ervillers and Hendecourt-lès-Cagnicourt”, occurred around 7 p.m. This “event of strong winds” and these strong gusts “tornado-like” did “slightly injured” in Bihucourt, according to the prefecture.
TORNADO confirmed! First video of the phenomenon impacting the town of Buhicourt in Pas-De-Calais. Extensive damage is reported. #France #thunderstorms #Tornado
Credit: Robin G. pic.twitter.com/89wAGa15w2
— Nahel Belgherze (@WxNB_) October 23, 2022
In Bihucourt, bad weather required “the rehousing of approximately 150 inhabitants”. “Trees and electric poles fell on the road”adds the prefecture. “There was a storm, a tornado that ravaged almost the entire village“, reacted the mayor of the municipality with franceinfo. “Some houses are razed, collapsed, there are torn roofs. The church is partly destroyed”, lamented Benoit-Vincent Caille.
The North prefecture also reported “Power cuts”. Near Douai, the winds ripped off roofs. On Twitterthe Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin, expressed his “solidarity with the inhabitants of the affected municipalities”.
#Severe weather François-Xavier Bieuville, sub-prefect of #Douaywent this evening to Masny and Erchin, in the presence of the mayors and the @Sdis59, to ensure the direction of the operations. On this occasion, he thanked all the services and partners mobilized. pic.twitter.com/ggQy2NyGWW
– Prefecture of the Hauts-de-France and North region (@prefet59) October 23, 2022