List of European tornadoes in 2026

Last updated

European tornadoes of 2026
Timespan4 January - Present
Maximum rated tornado IF2 tornado
Tornadoes6
Fatalities0 (1 injury)
Part of the tornadoes of 2026

The 2026 European tornado season is the current season of tornadoes and tornado outbreaks across Europe and surrounding areas [a] in 2026. As of January, there have been 5 confirmed tornadoes across several countries, resulting in zero fatalities and at least one injury. [1]

Contents

IFUIF0IF0.5IF1IF1.5IF2IF2.5IF3IF4IF5Total
10102200006

Many different meteorological organizations across Europe document tornado events, often using different tornado intensity scales, including the TORRO (T) scale, the Fujita (F) scale, the Enhanced Fujita (EF) scale, and the International Fujita (IF) scale. [3] For consistency, this list primarily uses the IF-scale, the preferred scale of the European Severe Storms Laboratory (ESSL) and its database, the European Severe Weather Database (ESWD). [4]

Climatology

Despite their similar areas, Europe sees significantly fewer tornadoes than the United States. Geography plays a major role in this discrepancy, with the unique features in North America making areas like Tornado Alley ideal for severe weather, while many of these conditions are generally less optimal in Europe. However, the under-reporting of weaker tornadoes across the continent also contributes to this. [5] [2] This under-reporting primarily stems from a lack of pan-European collaboration in monitoring tornadoes, resulting in less public and institutional awareness of them or their danger or the real threat they pose, despite many occurrences of violent, damaging, and deadly tornadoes across the continent. [6] [2]

Tornado activity in Europe typically peaks in the summer months and is lowest during the winter months. More specifically, Central and Northern Europe peak in the summer, the western and central Mediterranean regions peak in autumn, and the eastern Mediterranean region peaks in the winter. Tornadoes over land most often occur in the late afternoon and early evening hours. On the other hand, waterspouts, which sometimes move ashore in coastal areas and become tornadoes, peak in late spring and typically occur earlier in the day. [2]

Season summary

January

IFUIF0IF0.5IF1IF1.5IF2IF2.5IF3IF4IF5Total
10102200006

4 January event

List of confirmed tornadoes – Sunday, 4 January 2026 [b]
IF# LocationRegionCountryStart coord.Time (UTC)Path lengthMax. width
IF1.5 Frattocchie Lazio Italy 41°46′04″N12°36′54″E / 41.7678°N 12.6151°E / 41.7678; 12.6151 (Frattocchie (4 Jan., IF1.5)) 10:184.7 km (2.9 mi)70 m (76 yd)
Downed trees and a large tent, roofs damaged and one partially ripped off [1]

5 January event

List of confirmed tornadoes – Monday, 5 January 2026 [b]
IF# LocationRegionCountryStart coord.Time (UTC)Path lengthMax. width
IFU Rome Lazio Italy 41°27′22″N12°40′26″E / 41.4561°N 12.674°E / 41.4561; 12.674 (Nettuno (5 Jan., IFU)) 11:40UnknownUnknown
Landfall very likely, no damage reported. [1]

7 January event

List of confirmed tornadoes – Wednesday, 7 January 2026 [b]
IF# LocationRegionCountryStart coord.Time (UTC)Path lengthMax. width
IF2 Kalpaki Epirus Greece 39°53′08″N20°37′34″E / 39.8856°N 20.6261°E / 39.8856; 20.6261 (Kalpaki (8 Jan., IF2)) 02:00UnknownUnknown
The tornado destroyed a poultry farm, killing approximately 30,000–40,000 chickens. Two other buildings were heavily damaged, with partially collapsed walls. The church of Agios Georgios, watchtowers and other facilities were also damaged. [1] [7]

8 January event

List of confirmed tornadoes – Thursday, 8 January 2026 [b]
IF# LocationRegionCountryStart coord.Time (UTC)Path lengthMax. width
IF1.5 Giannitsochori Western Greece Greece 37°23′35″N21°41′17″E / 37.3931°N 21.6881°E / 37.3931; 21.6881 (Giannitsochori (8 Jan., IF1.5)) 05:20UnknownUnknown
A tornado was reported in Giannitsoxori area. An overturned moving car and damaged greenhouses were reported. [1] [8]
IF2 Karacalar Afyonkarahisar Turkey 36°44′54″N31°33′06″E / 36.7482°N 31.5517°E / 36.7482; 31.5517 (Karacalar (8 Jan., IF2)) 17:35UnknownUnknown
A tornado hit the villages of Karacalar and Sülek, causing extensive damage to buildings. The roofs of at least six buildings were damaged, barn walls collapsed, numerous greenhouses were destroyed, and trees were uprooted or snapped. A parked Fiat car was swept approximately four meters away and overturned. A 20-year-old woman who was near the scene was struck by the car and sustained non-life-threatening injuries. [1] [9]

12 January event

List of confirmed tornadoes – Monday, 12 January 2026 [b]
IF# LocationRegionCountryStart coord.Time (UTC)Path lengthMax. width
IF0.5 Eboli Campania Italy 40°29′39″N14°56′23″E / 40.4941°N 14.9398°E / 40.4941; 14.9398 (Eboli (12 Jan., IF0.5)) 14:40UnknownUnknown
A tornado was reported in Giannitsoxori area. An overturned moving car and damaged greenhouses were reported. [1] [10]

See also

References

  1. ↑ ESWD data includes Europe, Greenland, the Azores and Canary Islands, countries in the Middle East and North Africa that border the Mediterranean Sea, and Central Asia. [1] [2] For consistency, this list includes all ESWD-confirmed tornadoes.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 All dates are based on the local time zone where the tornado touched down; however, all times are in Coordinated Universal Time for consistency.
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "European Severe Weather Database" (Interactive map and database). ESWD. European Severe Storms Laboratory. 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Pieter Groenemeijer; Thilo Kühne (1 December 2014). "A Climatology of Tornadoes in Europe: Results from the European Severe Weather Database". Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society. 142 (12). American Meteorological Society: 4775–4790. Bibcode:2014MWRv..142.4775G. doi: 10.1175/MWR-D-14-00107.1 .
  3. ↑ Pierre Mahieu; Emmanuel Wesolek. "Tornado Rating in Europe with the EF-scale" (PDF). Keraunos.
  4. ↑ "International Fujita (IF) Scale". European Severe Storms Laboratory. 28 July 2023.
  5. ↑ Allison Chinchar (28 November 2022). "Here's why the US has more tornadoes than any other country". CNN. Retrieved 25 December 2025.
  6. ↑ Bogdan Antonescu; David M. Schultz; Alois Holzer; Pieter Groenemeijer (1 April 2017). "Tornadoes in Europe: An Underestimated Threat" . Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society. 98 (4). American Meteorological Society: 713–728. Bibcode:2017BAMS...98..713A. doi:10.1175/BAMS-D-16-0171.1 . Retrieved 25 December 2025.
  7. ↑ epiruspost (8 January 2026). IF2 tornado Report (Report). D News. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  8. ↑ Ilia (8 January 2026). IF1.5 tornado Report (Report). protinews. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
  9. ↑ IHA (8 January 2026). IF2 tornado Report (Report). IHA News. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
  10. ↑ InfoCliento (12 January 2026). IF0.5 tornado Report (Report). LiveTVCanale79. Retrieved 14 January 2026.
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