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Two Decades After, Birmingham Tornado Prompts Calls to Name Midlands the UK’s Tornado Alley

A Torro study of 15 regional twisters since 1931 highlights the Midlands’ overlooked tornado risk

Devastation in Sparkbrook, Birmingham, after the tornado of July 28, 2005
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Overview

  • On July 28, 2005, a 140 mph tornado carved a seven-mile path through Kings Heath, Moseley, Balsall Heath and Sparkbrook, injuring 39 people and causing £40 million in damage.
  • Specialist urban search and rescue teams used trained sniffer dogs to sweep more than 30 streets and hundreds of homes, ensuring no fatalities in the storm’s aftermath.
  • Torro’s review reveals an even more powerful tornado struck Birmingham in 1931 and records 15 twisters in the region between 1946 and 2005.
  • Eyewitness Jane Trobridge described roofs lifting off petrol stations, swirling debris and cars being hurled skyward as “madness.”
  • Experts say official recognition of the Midlands as Britain’s Tornado Alley is needed to drive updated storm preparedness and resilience planning.