1764 Woldegk tornado
A copper engraving by Gottlob Burchard Genzmer showing the tornado | |
| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| Date | 29 June 1764 |
| Duration | 1 hour |
| IF5 tornado | |
| on the International Fujita scale | |
| T11 tornado | |
| on the TORRO scale | |
| Highest winds | >480 km/h (300 mph) |
| Largest hail | 15 cm (6 in) |
| Overall effects | |
| Fatalities | 1 |
| Injuries | 3 |
| Areas affected | around Woldegk, Duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Holy Roman Empire (now Germany) |
On June 29, 1764, one of the strongest tornadoes ever documented struck the town of Woldegk, Holy Roman Empire (modern day Germany.) The tornado received the unique T11 rating on the TORRO scale along with an F5 rating on the Fujita scale and had winds estimated to be at least 480 kilometres per hour (300 mph). The tornado traveled 30 kilometres (19 mi) and reached a maximum width of 900 metres (980 yd). The F5 rating was later updated to IF5 rating on the International Fujita scale.
Most of the information known about this tornado came from a detailed 77-paragraph study by German scientist Gottlob Burchard Genzmer, which was published one year after the tornado occurred. The tornado completely destroyed several structures, and several tree branches were reportedly thrown into the atmosphere. Many areas were covered with up to 2 centimetres (0.8 in) of ice. The storm which produced the tornado was dry, with almost no rain reported. Large hail, reportedly reaching 15 centimetres (6 in) in diameter covered the ground. The hail caused significant crop and property damage, killed dozens of animals, and injured multiple people in a large stretch around the tornado and to the northwest of the tornado's path.