A video of a thunderstorm in Kitchener, ON, is circulating online and has sparked concerns over a possible tornado. However, Environment Canada says the phenomenon is a natural occurrence that commonly accompanies severe thunderstorms.
The video, filmed in what appears to be a shopping centre parking lot on Sunday, shows a dark, wide, funnel, and vortex-like cloud coming down from a stormy sky, which moves slowly over the area.
Despite the cloud’s menacing appearance, Environment Canada says the foggy formation does not appear to be a tornado, but rather a shelf cloud, which typically occurs alongside severe thunderstorms and strong wind gusts.
@nowtoronto A wild thunderstorm that looked like a tornado was caught on camera in Kitchener, ON yesterday. Did you see this? 😮🌪 #OntarioStorm #Kitchener ♬ original sound – Now Toronto
“Basically, it appears that way because a strong wind gust brings down cooler air from in front of the thunderstorm. And once that cooler air interacts with the warmer, moist air ahead of it, it forms that distinct, flat, looking cloud, and they can look quite menacing,” Lucas Alexopoulos, an operational meteorologist with Environment Canada, told Now Toronto on Monday.
According to Alexopoulos, shelf clouds occur regularly throughout the year, and are most notable in Southern Ontario during the summer months, when thunderstorms and windy conditions are present.
Though the cloud may resemble a tornado, Alexopoulos says a shelf cloud tends to appear more linear and typically forms under unidirectional winds.
Additionally, the formation of a tornado involves rotation, along with atmospheric conditions that support air circulation. When these conditions are present, Alexopoulos says a tornado is more likely to occur.
Despite shelf clouds appearing over the weekend, they are not expected in the Toronto area for the rest of the week, but residents can expect lots of rain. According to Environment Canada, today’s daytime high will be 24 C with a 40 per cent chance of showers, and a low of 17 C.
On Wednesday, the high is expected to reach 21 C, with a 60 per cent chance of showers and a low of 16 C. Thursday is set to bring warm, rainy conditions, with a high of 22 C, and a low of 15 C.
Friday’s forecast includes a high of 23 C, with a mix of sun and cloud and an overnight low of 10 C. Conditions are expected to improve over the weekend, with sunshine and a daytime high of 24 C on Saturday (low of 13 C), and a high of 23 C on Sunday, with an overnight low of 12 C.
