TORRO hosts bi-annual conferences, usually in April and October, at Oxford Brookes University. The first conference was held in 1985, and various presentations are given on all aspects of weather, especially severe weather. In the Spring conference, TORRO staff present annual reviews of the previous year's severe weather, and severe weather forecasts. We welcome suggestions for future talks - if you'd like to present or have an idea get in touch!

IN-PERSON ONLY

Spring Conference 2026

Saturday 18th April

The Tornado and Storm Research Organisation (TORRO) invites you to their Spring Conference 2026. The conference will be in-person only, and all are welcome. Advance registration is required (see below).

Location: Gibbs Building: Room G117, Oxford Brookes University, Headington Campus, Gipsy Lane, Oxford, OX3 0BP

Registration desk opens at 10:30, refreshment facilities are available nearby on campus. Parking is limited and first come, first served, but Thornhill Park and Ride offers frequent buses that only take 10 minutes to reach Oxford Brookes. In addition the Oxford Tube buses from London and Heathrow/Gatwick coaches stop outside the campus. For more information on visiting Oxford Brookes, visit the Brookes website .

Presentations

11:00 - 11:10

Welcome to the conference and introductions

11:10 - 11:40

TORRO Annual Review 2025 – Thunderstorms
Jonathan Webb (TORRO)

11:40 - 12:10

TORRO Annual Review 2025 – Tornadoes and Waterspouts in the UK
Peter Kirk (TORRO and Met Office)

12:10 - 12:30

TORRO Announcements and Updates

12:30 - 14:00

LUNCH BREAK
Refreshment facilities nearby – e.g. café and separate shop on campus is open all day. An opportunity to talk to other participants and to show your weather-related photos and to make new contacts. Plus the TORRO poster displays

14:00 - 14:45

Severe thunderstorms and unusually large hail in eastern Scotland, 14 August 2025
Dan Holley (Met Office and TORRO)

14:45 - 15:15

Rate My Damage
Sarah Horton (TORRO Site Investigations Director)

15:15 - 15:30

SHORT BREAK

15:30 - 16:00

Rapid Fire Presentations
(a) Site Investigation of the Dereham (Norfolk) Tornado, 20 October 2025 Ryan Finch (TORRO and Met Office)
(b) 20 years on; London's T5 Tornado at Kensal Rise on 7 December 2006 Peter Kirk (TORRO and Met Office)

16:00 - 16:25

Open Session
An opportunity to mention other recent severe weather highlights – UK or further afield. If you wish to show images, let us know either in advance, or during registration on the day of the conference.

16:25 - 16:30

Conference closes

Afterwards

As usual, informal after-conference food, drink and discussions available at the nearby White Horse pub . All are welcome!

Registration

General Admission

£15

Under 18s

FREE

Accompanied by an adult

Tickets can be purchased via

Eventbrite logo

TORRO is obliged by law to comply with the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR). For the purposes of organising TORRO conferences and meetings we will hold your name and contact details as secure digital records. Your submission of these details is taken as explicit agreement that we may continue to do so. We will not use your details for other purposes without your explicit permission and will not pass them onto third parties. If, at anytime, you wish to know exactly what personal details we do hold and/or wish them to be deleted or changed in any way then you may contact: membership@torro.org.uk.