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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Stormy weather forms funnel cloud | Stormy weather forms funnel cloud |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Stormy weather across Lancashire and Merseyside has resulted in a funnel cloud forming in the sky. | Stormy weather across Lancashire and Merseyside has resulted in a funnel cloud forming in the sky. |
| The cloud, which is effectively a tornado which does not touch the ground, was spotted at about 1430 BST. | The cloud, which is effectively a tornado which does not touch the ground, was spotted at about 1430 BST. |
| If the funnel had touched down it would have caused severe damage, a Met Office spokesman said. | If the funnel had touched down it would have caused severe damage, a Met Office spokesman said. |
| Such clouds are formed when strong storms, often together with thunderstorms, amass where the wind blows in different directions. | Such clouds are formed when strong storms, often together with thunderstorms, amass where the wind blows in different directions. |
| 'Excellent examples' | 'Excellent examples' |
| Nigel Bolton, a weather forecaster with the Met Office added: "We have about 30 to 40 touchdown tornadoes a year in the UK and if this funnel cloud had touched down it could have badly damaged a tree or a shed roof. | Nigel Bolton, a weather forecaster with the Met Office added: "We have about 30 to 40 touchdown tornadoes a year in the UK and if this funnel cloud had touched down it could have badly damaged a tree or a shed roof. |
| "However, because the cloud base was either too high or too weak it couldn't make the ground so it just hung there in suspension. | "However, because the cloud base was either too high or too weak it couldn't make the ground so it just hung there in suspension. |
| In the UK they tend to be rain-wrapped so you don't see them but this one was forming under a cloud that wasn't yet raining Nigel Bolton, Met Office forecaster class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7492556.stm">Readers' photos | |
| "In the UK they are quite common but they are not generally as good as this - these photos are excellent examples of a funnel cloud as they do not usually tend to be so well formed. | "In the UK they are quite common but they are not generally as good as this - these photos are excellent examples of a funnel cloud as they do not usually tend to be so well formed. |
| "In the UK they tend to be rain-wrapped so you don't see them but this one was forming under a cloud that wasn't yet raining. | "In the UK they tend to be rain-wrapped so you don't see them but this one was forming under a cloud that wasn't yet raining. |
| "As soon as it started to rain, the funnel would collapse." | "As soon as it started to rain, the funnel would collapse." |
| According to Mr Bolton, who is also a member of the Tornado and Storm Research Organisation, funnel clouds are similar to a vortex of water seen when a plug is removed from a bath. | According to Mr Bolton, who is also a member of the Tornado and Storm Research Organisation, funnel clouds are similar to a vortex of water seen when a plug is removed from a bath. |
| Police and Fire Services in Merseyside and Lancashire said there had been no reports of any damage caused by the funnel cloud. | Police and Fire Services in Merseyside and Lancashire said there had been no reports of any damage caused by the funnel cloud. |