Kathmandu— A tornado swept through the city of Nizhny Novgorod in western Russia on Monday, bringing torrential rain, flooding, and strong winds. Videos circulating online showed a funnel cloud descending from storm clouds and lifting debris into the air, while local media reported streets transformed into fast-moving streams due to overwhelmed drainage systems. Trees were uprooted, damaging vehicles and buildings, but authorities report no injuries as of Tuesday morning.

Storm Impacts

The downpour accompanying the tornado quickly overwhelmed Nizhny Novgorod’s drainage infrastructure, turning streets into rapidly flowing currents. Strong winds brought down trees and large branches, causing damage to parked cars – including broken windows and bodywork – and other property. Footage of the event widely shared online depicted a dark funnel cloud descending from storm clouds amidst heavy rainfall.

Official Response

Nizhny Novgorod Mayor Yury Shalabayev stated that no injuries were reported as a result of the severe weather. He also confirmed that municipal crews had been dispatched to address the damage and begin cleanup efforts following the tornado’s passage. The city is currently assessing the full extent of the destruction.

Unusual Weather Pattern

The storm occurred during an unseasonably cold snap, with temperatures in Nizhny Novgorod dropping to approximately 8C (46F). This represents a significant departure from typical mid-August weather patterns, where daytime highs usually reach around 22C (72F). The unusual temperature drop coincided with the severe weather event.

Recent Increase in Tornado Activity

The Nizhny Novgorod tornado is the latest in a series of extreme weather events recorded across Russia this summer. In June, a powerful vortex struck the Ural town of Kushva, injuring 16 people, and another twister damaged over 700 hectares of forest in the Perm Region in late May. A climatological study indicates that Russia experiences an average of more than 100 tornadoes annually between 2009 and 2018, though many occur in sparsely populated areas.

Authorities continue to assess damage across Nizhny Novgorod as cleanup efforts get underway following the tornado and subsequent flooding.

(With inputs from RT)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.