Welsh Histories

Cymru tornado

Cymru’s Worst Ever Tornado Tragedy from Over a Century Ago that Many Have Forgotten Today

—

by

Sally George
in

Did you know that Cymru had its worst ever tornado outbreak on October 27, 1913?

Cymru tornado

While tornadoes are most often associated with the United States, they do occur throughout the island of Britain (though very rarely to the extent of their American cousins) and the October 27 1913 tornado outbreak was our worst. It took place and caused devastation in Dyffryn Taff of South Wales. Sadly, not much is spoken about it, till date.

The tornado proceeded north through the Dyffryn Taff, where the havoc actually began, following its track through Dyffryn Dowlais, Glyntaff, Treforest, Cilfynydd, Abercynon, Edwardsville, Cefn Methyr and Bedlinog. 

Cymru tornado
Source: Geology Wales

“. . . a genuine tornado of the type common enough in parts of America . . . The straight track with clean cut lateral limits, the violent electrical phenomena, the heavy rainfall, the roaring noise, the sudden decrease of barometric pressure, resulting in the blowing out of walls of buildings, as if by explosion from within, are all features which are common in descriptions of American tornadoes. The width of the track, three hundred yards and the rate of advance, 36 miles per hour, are of the same magnitude as in American tornadoes“.

– Met Office Investigation

The Cymru tornado first passed over the grounds of Pontypridd Golf Club, after which it approached Cilfynydd, with an increased width to two hundred yards. This led to much more damage as the storm swept the entire village from south to north.

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Over 100 people were injured and there were more than five deaths that were reported. Damage and repairs to the property was  estimated to be £40,000, which is equivalent to around £2.5 million today.

Cymru tornado
Cilfynydd – rooves gone and windows smashed | Source: Cowbridge U3A

”I saw nothing out of the ordinary run of thunderstorms until I had reached a point a little beyond Wood Street schools. Here I observed a flash of lightning, which seemed to assume a globular shape, sending out a long tail-like stream of light. This was followed almost instantly by the first crash of thunder, which was peculiar in its sound. It reminded me forcibly of the rattle peculiar to small artillery, with the noise intensified.”

– A witness based in Cilfynydd.

Half a ton of brick chimney near Cilfynydd was carried hundreds of yards away, along with windows smashed by flying debris.

Cymru tornado

”Repeated flashes continued for four minutes and the train travelled slower than usual, till we reached Creigiau station, at 5.30 p.m., when I clearly observed a ball of fire, apparently the size of my hat, flashing along with a blinding sheet of lightning, and travelling from South to North. 1 remarked to others about the thunderbolt, and that great damage would be done somewhere by it.”

– A train passenger on his way to Pontypridd.
Cymru tornado
Nantddu Terrace House Then and Now | Source: Cowbridge U3A

What’s more devastating is this tornado occurred less than two weeks after the Senghenydd Colliery Disaster which killed 439 men and boys, followed by World war I which was soon to take place. The tornado incident, sandwiched between these two events has led many to forget about the tornado tragedy.

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