A violent storm, most likely a tornado, tore part of the roof off an apartment at Søtorvet in Hvalsø on Sunday evening while a family sat down to dinner. Mid- and West Zealand Police confirmed damage at several addresses, and no one was injured.
According to DR, the storm struck the town on Zealand at around 7 p.m. on Sunday, September 20. Lilja Margit Barratt and her family were eating a pasta dish when part of the roof of their apartment was ripped away.
She described the moment as extremely violent, comparing it to a fighter jet entering the living room. As reported by DR, she was relieved that no glass fell onto the floor, where her grandchild had been playing.
Barratt said she was completely paralyzed when she realized what had happened. The family then began clearing insulation from the roof, which had landed in the living room through the hole left by a skylight.
Furniture was moved so rain would not fall on it, and the insurance company was called. Per DR, tradespeople worked through the night and left at 5:30 a.m., leaving her with only a couple of hours of sleep. She said the insurance company will now assess what happens next.
Police confirm damage at supermarkets
Mid- and West Zealand Police confirmed the incident in their daily report. A smaller section of the roof on a supermarket was also damaged, and a shopping cart shelter belonging to a neighboring supermarket was blown over.
No people were injured in connection with the event, according to the police.
Radar showed signs of rotation
Anders Brandt, a meteorologist at DR Vejret, said it is very likely that a tornado was involved. He explained that a heavy shower moved in from Sejrøbugten early in the evening. It continued across northwest Zealand and passed north of Tølløse before reaching Hvalsø.
Radar images showed a hook in the most intense part of the shower, which is typically where a tornado forms. The radar also showed signs of rotation as the shower passed over Hvalsø.
At the same time, winds reached storm strength at an altitude of 1,500 meters and hurricane strength at 5 to 6 kilometers. According to Brandt, such large differences in wind speed with height make it easier for the air to begin rotating.
Brandt noted that Denmark typically sees tornadoes several times a year. It is rare, however, that they cause major damage. The Danish Meteorological Institute regularly issues warnings for wild weather including thunderstorms and hail.
DR published video footage of the damage in Hvalsø, recorded by Rasmus Flindt Pedersen. No images of the tornado itself have been published.
