ESSL Research

Gustnado (gust front vortex) climatology, 2000-2007


This page will be updated annually, or when significant new data or results are available. The ESWD reporting criteria and thresholds are outlined in the ESWD data format description (ESSL Tech. Rep. 2006-01) available under "Publications".

Gustnado incidence in Europe

European gustnado incidence map: 8yr-period 2000-2007

Gustnado incidence as a primary measure of hazard

This preliminary figure is based on ESWD reports of gut front vortices (gustnadoes). The 8yr-period covered is 2000-2007. A reasonably homogeneous pan-European data coverage has not yet been achieved. The quantity depicted is incidence, i.e. number of ESWD reports per year per unit area. On a 1° × 1° latitude-longitude grid spacing, damaging wind reports per year per 10 000 km2 has been computed from 2000 to 2007. Due to the short, sub-climatological time period, the peak values in the graph are likely exaggerated compared to the "true" climatology.


2000-2007 gustnado intensity distribution

Based on the data shown on the above map, the following intensity distribution over F-scale results:

F-scale

F-2

F-1

F0

F1

F2

F3

F4

F5

Sum

All reports

% rated

Avg. reports per year

Gustnado

-

-

10

4

-

-

-

-

14

22

63.6%

3