SEVERE THUNDERSTORM – 1st February 2014

A severe thunderstorm associated with an intense North African low and triple point passing over the Maltese Islands produced a tornado (potentially F1 to F2) at around 4pm that flipped over two light aircraft at the airport and also brought down or snapped some large trees, large branches and electricity poles in various locations, including Luqa, Attard and Ta’ Qali. The path was SE-NW from Birżebbuġa to Ta’ Qali.

Furthermore, one particular house owner suffered thousands of euros worth of damage with broken air conditioning units, parts of the house torn off and full gas cylinders found hundreds of metres away. Some neighbouring olive trees were also snapped.