Draft:Tornadoes in Latvia

Tornadoes in Latvia are rare with only around 1-2 tornados occurring every year. The most notable recent tornadoes are the 2019 Golvari tornado and the 2017 Judazi tornado, both rated IF2. Latvia has many waterspouts every year, often confused with tornadoes.

Tornado alleys in Latvia

There are no distinct tornado alleys in Latvia, however there are a few places that recieve more tornadoes than other places:

The Riga tornado alley - Usually weak tornadoes occur here (IF0-IF1) located in Riga and its surrounding regions. Most of the tornadoes occur here.

The Liepaja tornado alley - Usually weak tornadoes occur here (IF0-IF1.5) located in Liepāja and South Kurzeme Municipality.

The Balvi tornado alley - Usually weak to medium tornadoes occur here (IF0-IF2) located in Balvi Municipality. This alley produces less tornados than the other tornado alleys, but it produces more strong tornados.

Notable tornadoes in Latvia

This list comprises every tornado in Latvia with a rating of IF1.5 or higher. Every tornado after 2015 on this list uses the IF scale, tornadoes before 2015 use the F scale.

1795 Vidzeme region FU - Path length of 12 kilometers, peak width of 2 kilometers. The tornado was likely violent.

1980 Zilupe F1 - Damage was surveyed by a weather expert, written on a newspaper, which is now lost.

1981 Jugolova F1 - Limited documentation.

1985 Durbe F3 - Houses were badly damaged and a tractor was thrown. Considered the strongest Latvian tornado on record.

1985 Liepaja F1 - Damage was surveyed by a weather expert.

1986 Madona F2 - Damage was surveyed by a weather expert, written on a newspaper. The tornado was between 150 meters and 2 kilometers wide, with a path length of 50 kilometers. The tornado was likely rain-wrapped. The tornado traveled from Ērgļi to Ranka. The tornados windspeeds were likely higher than 140mph, possibly even higher than 200mph. The tornado nearly killed a fisherman.

1998 Cesis F1 - Limited documentation.

2000 Ludza F2 - Houses badly damaged.

2000 Rezekne F2 - Houses damaged, power lines destroyed.

2001 Liksna F1 - Limited documentation.

2005 Klieni F1 - Tornado ripped roofs off of houses, damaged farm buildings.

2007 Garkalne F1 - Hundreds of trees snapped.

2007 Engure F1/T2 - Limited documentation.

2008 Rozes F1 - Damage to roofs and cars. Trees got uprooted.

2008 Aizkraukle F1/T2 - Basement roof destroyed, over 40 trees downed.

2011 Salaspils F1 - Damage to roofs, trees uprooted.

2012 Nica F1 - Cars damaged, trees uprooted.

2017 Judazi IF2 - Damage to roofs, buildings fully destroyed, trees uprooted, forests destroyed.

2019 Tukums IF1.5 - Railway infrastructure damaged, buildings destroyed, cars dented, windshields broken.

2019 Golvari IF2 - Path length of 20 kilometers, width of 350 meters. Damage to roofs, walls collapsed, buildings destroyed, forests destroyed.

2022 Vecpiebalga IF1.5 - Damage to roofs, trees uprooted.

2023 Gulbene IF1.5 - Forests destroyed.

2023 Jaunaglona IF2 - Damage to roofs, trees uprooted.

2023 Feimani IF1.5 - Forests destroyed.

2024 Olaine IF1.5 - Damage to roofs, trees uprooted, greenhouse rolled.