BBC Focus Magazine

[Jamie]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/hig ... 173784.stm

A number of cars and homes have been damaged by a mini tornado which hit the Isle of Lewis.

[M Paul Lloyd]

That's pretty amazing, and terrible obviously.

It would suggest that such events are more prevalent today than in the past although as I understand it historically speaking such 'freaky' weather isn't that unusual it's just that the news media gets the information to a wider audience more quickly these days.

[Jamie]

I think I read somewhere the UK has more Tornados per square mile than America.

[Shadowwolf]

Theirs just happen to be a smidge bigger at times

[Jamie]

So why do they build lots of house out of wood ?

[Pandora]

So why do they build lots of house out of wood ?

A question I've often asked the TV, whenever you see houses in Tornado Alley flattened into matchsticks.

[M Paul Lloyd]

The logic behind the flimsy wooden construction is that a cheap house is easier to replace but they can actually build tornado proof houses which would not need rebuilding at all.

Sadly I suspect it all comes down to people being a bit 'cheap'.

[The Beige Avenger]

I think the big story here is that there are English people on Lewis!!

I wonder if the BBC crew tried interviewing the locals but couldn't understand them and counter their lucky stars when a familiar accent asked "wots all this then?"

Yeah, UK does supposedly get a lot of tornadoes... although maybe they: don't make it to the ground, don't last very long and don't have a lot of oomf.

Having said that, never have I seen one... but I've only seen fork-lightning once...

Maybe there just aren't suitable quarries nearby to build their houses?

It is a bit of a wonder why they don't take in the unique weather (tornado!) into account when building houses. The only preparation they have is a storm shelter underground and when it clears they come to find their houses in ruins.
Ironically, the houses here would barely be dented by a tornado... fair enough a flying car is going to be hard to stop, but the winds themselves aren't going to bother granite much

[Shadowwolf]

You don't see many houses built from granite, even round this neck of the woods.

I have seen tests of tornado force winds hurling wooden beams through brick walls, and of course there are all the windows to smash inwards or allow debris ease of access and the maelstrom itself. A solid brick house is not much safer than a wooden one to inhabit during the event I believe, best to get below ground.

As for why people build there, well the majority of folks and their houses never see a tornado blitz through; it is only the unlucky few that have their homes wrecked or worse and it is they who make the news. No different than those who choose to live in flood prone areas or any other disaster prone location, why live near active volcanoes for instance? There is some reason that they are there and they accept the risk.

[M Paul Lloyd]

You don't see many houses built from granite, even round this neck of the woods.

Um... actually on the island of Jersey (in the Channel Islands) almost all of the traditional houses (I lived in one for many years) are built from granite because that's is what the island is made off.

[Shadowwolf]

Well as a general rule most are not granite built with some exceptions like Jersey

[The Beige Avenger]

....and pretty much every house in Aberdeen (hence my reference to it!!).

[The Jules]

"and pretty much every house in Aberdeen "

Never mind tornadoes then, what are the radon levels?

[M Paul Lloyd]

Never had a problem with radon, but then again in those days houses were not hermetically sealed with double glazing.

[The Beige Avenger]

"and pretty much every house in Aberdeen "

Never mind tornadoes then, what are the radon levels?

Aberdeen has a 'high' background radiation / high radon levels... Radon will mess you up good and proper!

Did you not know Aberdeen is the Granite city?

[Shadowwolf]

Didn't know it was a city

[The Beige Avenger]

I'm surprised you can't see it, you know, from way up there in your ivory tower...

[M Paul Lloyd]

I'm surprised you can't see it, you know, from way up there in your ivory tower...

OOOh! that's a bit mean.

[The Beige Avenger]

He started it!!

-Just having a laugh, should have put in a smilie..

[M Paul Lloyd]

Smilies help.