Typical setups and characteristics of strong tornadic storms in Central Europe shown by the tornado outbreak on 20 May 2022

A detailed analysis of tornadic F2+ storms that occurred since 2013 in Germany is found in Wapler and Beyer 2022. Many findings of this study are supported by a recent severe weather outbreak.

 

On 20 May 2022, a severe weather outbreak took place, influencing parts of Central Europe - mainly Germany. Besides heavy precipitation, large hail, and a severe windstorm at least eight tornadoes occurred, three of them were rated F2 on the Fujita scale. As discussed in Wapler and Beyer 2022, 20 May 2022 can be classified as tornado outbreak. It was the first tornado outbreak in Germany since 2016.

 

The 20 May 2022 had a rather typical setup with a pronounced short-wave trough moving from western Europe into Germany. The trough led to an intensification of a downstream surface low that was moving from Benelux into northern Germany during the day. As analysed for previous cases, the outbreak occurred in an HSLC situation.

 

Several of the observed tornadoes can be attributed to the same storm.

Radar radial wind data showed persistent rotation tracks. Previous convective activity at the location of the F2 tornadoes may have moistened the lower troposphere and may have additionally lowered the LCL. Another supercell occurred relatively close by but in an area without previous precipitation. For this storm, no tornado was reported. The lighting activity of the tornadic storm was high including lightning jumps.

 

The case is analysed regarding its synoptic and mesoscale environment as well as storm characteristics and is compared to previous findings by Wapler and Beyer 2022.

 

An understanding of historical events, regarding the occurrence and characteristics of severe storms, may help to improve the situational awareness of future tornado events.