A category F1 tornado touched down in France southwest of the city of Toulouse on April 29, causing minor damage, according to the French weather website Meteorologic.
The funnel cloud was witnessed by residents who quickly grabbed their cameras and shot photos and video of the storm's dusty column, which appeared against dramatic storm clouds, and according to at least one piece of footage, a spectacular blue sky.
Scroll Down For Video Of The Tornado
Meteorologic reports that the F1 storm touched down southwest of Toulouse around 7:30 p.m. local time.
Damage included collapsed walls, uprooted trees, and cars that were moved around in the city. Storms of this category on the Fujita scale have winds between 73 and 112 mph.
According to EarthSky, "Violent tornadoes are rare in France." Yet, a 2008 storm that ripped through the town of Hautmont, near Belgium, killed 3 and damaged 40 homes, according to Sky News.
While the variables that cause tornadoes are complex, they occur essentially when the updraft within a thunderstorm causes horizontally rotating air in the lower atmosphere to tilt upward, according to the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration. Most tornadoes, such as the one that hit Toulouse, are weak, lasting less than 10 minutes and achieving wind speeds of less than 110 mph.
A 2011 article in the Atlantic pointed to climate change as a governing factor in increasing the severity of tornadoes and other extreme weather, citing studies published in the magazines Science and Nature.
"Changing atmospheric and oceanic conditions underlie the changing patterns of weather—and that the stage is set for more severe storms, including even more punishing tornadoes," the article concluded.
WATCH: Tornado In France Caught On Video:
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