‘Twister’ spotted over Walney

Last updated 11:57, Thursday, 11 September 2008

Taken by Geoff Buchanan

A MYSTERIOUS cloud hung has been spotted in the sky over Barrow.
Residents of the town were baffled by the cloud, resembling a tornado, which appeared in the sky over Walney at around 8pm on Monday.
It was visible from several areas of Barrow, including Hawcoat, Newbarns and Ormsgill.
Eagle-eyed Evening Mail readers sent in these images of the cloud, which is thought to have stayed in the sky for approximately 20 minutes. The cloud has now been identified as a funnel cloud, a funnel-shaped cloud made up of condensed water droplets.
Terry Haughin, 38, of Pascway Terrace, Barrow, said: “I was stood on the back door step and I noticed this strange cloud. It looked like some sort of tornado or something above Walney. I ran in to get my camera quickly so that I could get an image of it.
“My neighbours were coming out of their houses to take a look at it, as we have never seen anything like it before. Even though it looked a bit like a tornado cloud I wasn’t worried we were going to have something similar to what has happened in America. It was just interesting to look at.”
Keith Whitworth, 48, saw the cloud from his parents’ home in Newbarns. He said:“After I saw it, I assumed that it was a twister.
“It was great to look at, it was quite a big one and it appeared to be moving very fast.”
Funnel clouds are usually visible as a cone-shaped cloud extending from a main cloud base. Most tornadoes begin life as a funnel cloud, but in order to become a tornado, a funnel cloud must make contact with the ground and in many cases it does not.
Louise Smith, 43, of Netherfield Walk, Barrow, said: “I’ve never seen anything like it around here before. You see those sorts of clouds in America but not on our little isle.”