Funnel cloud appears over Norman Wells
Rare event captured on camera
Kassina Ryder
Northern News Services
Monday, June 20, 2016
LLI GOLINE/NORMAN WELLS
Gilly McNaughton says she couldn't believe her eyes when she spotted a funnel cloud outside her Norman Wells office on June 13.
A funnel cloud appears over Norman Wells on June 13. - Photo courtesy of Gilly McNaughton |
"I was sitting in a meeting and someone was talking to me and behind him there was a window and as he was talking, something caught my eye," she said.
"I was kind of in disbelief at what it was. I've been in the territory all of my life and I've never seen that."
McNaughton said she interrupted the meeting and the pair continued to watch the cloud.
"It was twisting almost like a corkscrew. At that point it was kind of descending toward the ground," she said. "We both watched it for a few more minutes before it dawned on me to take a photo. We were both just very awestruck."
Dan Kulak, a meteorologist with Environment Canada, said funnel clouds in the Northwest Territories are unusual.
"These are not absolutely unheard-of events, but they are certainly rare," he said.
Observations about the cloud were recorded at the Norman Wells airport at about 3:55 p.m. The cloud lasted for about four minutes, Kulak said.
McNaughton said she observed the cloud growing larger before it disappeared.
"It was increasing in size for a bit while I watched it," she said. "I think right around when I took the photo it started to dissipate."
McNaughton said just before the cloud appeared, she heard thunder and believed a storm was approaching.
"It was kind of windy and rainy throughout the day and then right around the time I saw it, I could see some dark clouds moving through the valley and I heard a couple claps of thunder," she said. "I was sort of thinking about a thunderstorm rolling in."
With the exception of some rain, the storm passed by. Kulak said funnel clouds can form even without storm activity.
"Funnel clouds do not require thunderstorms to develop," he said.
The clouds form at the base of a larger cloud and are made up of condensed water droplets.
Kulak said for example, water moving in a river will create swirls and eddies as it passes over rocks and other objects underneath. Air moves in a similar way.
Funnel clouds are classified as tornadoes only if they reach the ground.
