Instead of lightning I got a tornado
Since 7pm the atmosphere had become dark, humid and oppressive and the prospect of a rare lightning spectacle excited me.
I was in my back-garden but had to move inside due to the intensity of the rain and hail. I then watched from my kitchen window, which faces south.
The column of rapidly swirling broken cloud was no more than 500 feet above the ground.
I thought it was wind-driven smoke until I realised the rainstorm was slow-moving from the west.
I rushed outside but could detect no sound due to the pounding, monsoon-like rain.
Although its appearance was ragged there was no mistaking the funnel-like shape and circular movement
Having passed just east of my house, I resumed observation from my north-facing front door where I saw it break up over an area that later recorded flash floods at that time.
So, while awaiting lightning, I got a very rare glimpse of a short-lived tornado that remained aloft.
Brendan Hayes,
5 The Park,
Huntsfield,
Dooradoyle,
Limerick
