On this day: October 1913 'Tornado hits South Wales'

On this day 102 years ago, a powerful tornado swept through the Taff Valley, causing serious damage to properties and several fatalities.

The tornado hit on Monday 27th, having started in the South West of England before gathering power as it headed through Devon and Somerset.

Having crossed the Bristol Channel, it swept up through the Taff Valley bringing with it lightning, torrential rain and winds of 160mph.

Photos show the damage in areas such as Cilfynydd and Abercynon, while newspaper reports describe streets being destroyed, trees uprooted and chapels and schools damaged.

There was also a human cost, with several people losing their lives, with many more being injured as walls and roofs collapsed.

An inquiry in 1915 by the Met Office found that it was a tornado of the power and size of those usually found in America.

Source: Glamorgan Archives