Funnel-like clouds appear on Okanagan Lake

Central Okanagan residents have been reporting “lake tornados” over the the last few days on Okanagan Lake, but an Environment Canada expert says they’re not tornados at all.

Meteorologist Doug Lundquist said the weather event is a pretty common occurrence, and it’s not considered a water spout.

The funnel-clouds form when there is warm water and cold air, which creates a low-level fog over the lake. Because the fog is so warm and unstable, it rises up in the air, he said.

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Peachland resident Christine Hammersley said she saw the cloud-shape yesterday morning, Feb. 11, but has seen them before in the spring.

“We actually saw a couple of them at the same time,” she said.

“It looked more like water vapour. I would say what we were witnessing was either steam or a cloud… it actually grew as we were watching it.”

Other residents witnessed the unusual funnels on Okanagan Lake in Lake Country, Feb. 12.

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