Abstract
THERE seems to be very little doubt that Paris on Thursday last was visited by a tornado, the first time within the memory of man. It was accompanied by that mysterious circular motion that is special to this class of storm, and extended over a very small area, beginning at the Place St. Sulpice and ending at the Boulevard de la Villette, a distance of nearly two miles. It, however, caused considerable damage, resulting in, it is said, seven deaths and many severe injuries. On the day in question there had been since noon a succession of showers, and it was towards the last of these—about 3 p.m.—that the tornado showed itself. M. Angot, head of the Meteorological Bureau, was at the Pont Royal, about to take a boat, when he noticed small dark clouds, very low down, apparently moving against the wind, which was not at all high, the velocity not being more than five or six yards a second. He soon, however, perceived that the clouds had a rapid circular motion, not horizontal, but oblique. When making these observations he judged the distance of the storm to be about a mile, and its diameter about 170 yards. At the Tour St. Jacques, the meteorologist there states that the storm lasted less than a minute. Some black clouds passed swiftly overhead, and there was one flash of lightning. The barometer suddenly fell from 748 mm. to 742 mm., a drop of 6 mm.; a fact unprecedented for years, but almost immediately afterwards rose again. Advancing from this point towards the north-east, branches and, in some cases, whole trees fell on the roadways, and boats on the river were torn from their moorings and dashed on the quays. Omnibuses were upset, cabs thrown about, and stalls overturned. So strong was the force of the wind that the Palais de Justice had its windows broken and was partly unroofed. The roofs of the Opéra Comique, the Châtelet, the Tribunal of Commerce, and the Préfecture of Police were considerably damaged, and in some cases partly removed. Owing to the great damage done to the numerous windows of every house, the streets were strewn with enormous quantities of glass broken into small pieces. Some curious instances are related. A kiosk in front of the Ambigu, in which were seated two policemen, was carried, together with the policemen, to the other side of the street; the kiosk was completely wrecked, but the policemen were unhurt though shaken. The heavy rain which continued during the storm did considerable damage, filling up cellars, &c., and flooding the river Bièvre. It was owing, perhaps, to this rain, which had cleared the streets of people, that the number of accidents was not greater than was recorded.
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The Recent Cyclone in Paris. Nature 54, 481–482 (1896). https://doi.org/10.1038/054481a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/054481a0