A “mini-tornado” gust sweeps through Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
Last Friday, a sudden burst of wind and rain cut across Thurles in County Tipperary; the kind of sharp, swirling gust locals working outdoors describe as a “mini-tornado”.
These incidents feel unusual when they arrive without warning, but Met Éireann estimates that Ireland experiences roughly ten tornado-type occurrences each year on average. The “mini-tornado” label is commonly used to distinguish the smaller Irish variety from the much larger tornadoes associated with the United States. Many Irish events are weak “landspouts” that can develop quickly along squall lines or briefly energetic cumulus clouds, and dissipate within minutes. Irish meteorologists also note these phenomena are more common than most people assume.
That’s how Friday’s gust behaved. One moment it was simply blustery; the next, wind and rain were swirling through open spaces, rattling cars, and sending loose debris skittering across the car park.
(For context, “gale” conditions imply very strong winds on the Beaufort scale and feature in official warning thresholds.)
The same pulse of weather was also felt further north in the village of Loughmore, a reminder that these brief events can hopscotch across a small area.
In Thurles, the most striking damage is captured in the photo above. A newly erected directional sign for Thurles Shopping Centre was left battered and half-shrouded. A marker meant to guide shoppers now wears torn material wrapped around its frame like a storm-tugged flag.
This major short lived gale gusts funnelled itself between tall trees and buildings, striking the tall sign frame at an awkward angle, before turning its advertising data into a temporary ships sail.
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