The storm of the century? Tornado hit Soltvadkert in Central Hungary – PHOTOS
A likely “classic” tornado struck the town of Soltvadkert in Bács-Kiskun County early on 18 April, causing significant damage, according to a study published by HungaroMet Plc. on its website.
According to the study, at 2 AM on 18 April, a passing thunderstorm system unleashed extremely strong winds, heavy rainfall, and intense hail over northern Soltvadkert. The wind, which quickly accelerated to hurricane force, damaged homes, uprooted trees, and caused widespread destruction.
The worst damage occurred along a relatively narrow path. Just a few hundred meters outside this zone, the scale of the destruction dropped significantly. At a meteorological station about three kilometers southwest of the damage path, HungaroMet’s certified wind instruments recorded a maximum gust of only 25 kilometers per hour, and no other nearby areas experienced storm-force winds.
The radar showed that by 1 AM, a storm system made up of two large cells had entered the country’s border, moving rapidly north. The first cell reached the Soltvadkert area by 1:40 a.m., while the second cell moved between Kiskunmajsa and Kiskunhalas, also heading north. It was this stronger, second cell that arrived over Soltvadkert by 2 AM, bringing damaging winds and hail.
After passing over Soltvadkert, the two main storm cells continued their course toward the capital. However, no reports emerged of damage elsewhere on the scale seen in Soltvadkert.
Experts added that based on radar images, the storm cells resembled rotating thunderstorms — known as supercells — supported by their hook-shaped structure and long lifespan. The hook pattern typically indicates rotation, while the storm’s longevity is often sustained by this spinning motion.
The vertical cross-section of the storm over Soltvadkert also displayed the telltale signs of a supercell, with clear separation between the narrower “inflow region” and the broader area of heavy precipitation. The tornado likely formed within the supercell’s inflow channel.
According to the analysis, the damage in Soltvadkert was primarily caused by a tornado that developed within the supercell. Based on the extent of the destruction, the tornado is believed to have ranked EF1—possibly EF2—on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which is used to estimate tornado strength based on observed damage.
The report also referenced another study analyzing data from 2004 to 2012, which found that an average of around 70 supercells form in Hungary each year, though the number can vary widely. Tornadoes, however, develop in only 10–20 percent of these supercells.
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