Grand Harbour of Malta tornado

The Grand Harbour of Malta tornado was one of the deadliest tornadoes on record worldwide, killing at least 600 people. It began as a waterspout, hitting the Grand Harbour of Malta where it killed hundreds of people who drowned when their ships capsized.^[1] At least four of the Order's galleys, named Santa Fè, San Michele, San Filippo and San Claudio, capsized in the tornado.^[2] The date of the tornado is unknown, as sources conflict on it being September 23, 1551 or September 23, 1556. TORRO indicates a rating of T7 on the TORRO scale, equivalent to F3 on the Fujita scale.^[3]

Grand Harbour tornado

The Grand Harbour as it looked in the siege of 1565
Meteorological history
Formed	23 September 1551 or 23 September 1556 (sources conflict)
F3 tornado
on the Fujita scale
Overall effects
Fatalities	600 fatalities (estimated)
Areas affected	Grand Harbour, Malta

See also

• List of tornadoes and tornado outbreaks
• List of European tornadoes and tornado outbreaks

References

1. "British & European Tornado Extremes". The Tornado and storm Research Organisation. Archived from the original on 28 August 2014. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
2. Abela, Joe. "Claude de la Sengle (1494 - 1557)". Senglea Local Council. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
3. "British and European Extremes". www.torro.org.uk. TORRO. Retrieved 29 November 2022.