Leighton Buzzard
High Winds and Storms
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Tornado 1950
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 where some 50 houses were un-roofed and a brick built bakery demolished. Old Road and New Road were particularly effected. Damage was estimated at £25,000.
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.
Tornado 1950, by Bedfordshire Libraries, 2005
Page last updated: 25th January 2007
