Bedford
Tornado of 1950
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On May 21st 1950 a tornado and its two subsidiaries caused devastation over southeastern and eastern England. The tornadoes formed in thunderstorms over Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire and neighbouring parts of the Chiltern Hills. Damage was heaviest in the Buckinghamshire town of Linslade.
In Bedford, Harrowden Road was struck and tiles were lifted from the roofs, apple trees uprooted and garden walls overturned. The maximum force of the storm was felt at Fenlake where large willow trees were carried across the River Ouse causing it to become blocked.
In the countryside many trees were destroyed and telephone lines and television aerials were broken. There was extensive flooding across the county. Hailstones broke windows and damaged crops. The largest individual hailstones fell close to Ascott House near Linslade and at North Crawley, near Bedford. Examination showed that these hailstones were made up of several hailstones frozen together measuring some six to six and a half inches across. The greatest depths of hailstones were found 4-8 miles northwest of the main track of the tornado near Bedford.
Tornado of 1950 by Bedfordshire Libraries, 2005
Page last updated: 22nd January 2014