Waterspout
'Mini tornado' in Tel Aviv skies
Funnel cloud resembling small hurricane formulates over central Israel city. 'It was one of the most exciting things I've ever seen,' eye witness says
Tel Aviv locals witnessed an unusual event Thursday, as a funnel cloud resembling a small hurricane formulated in the sky. "It was one of the most amazing things I've ever seen in my life," eyewitness Sharon Weissman told Ynet Thursday, "I just hoped it wouldn't land on me".
Photo: Sharon Weissman
"At times, storm clouds create a mini tornado, caused by the instability of the weather this time of year. It occurs mainly due to the contrast between the hot temperature of the sea and the cool air coming from higher layers," says Dr. Hadas Saharoni, a leading expert in the Department of Geography studies at Tel Aviv University.
Vered Silermon, a Geophysics student who happened to observe the strange event, said "I windsurf, and this is the first time I've ever seen anything like it. I understood what it was right away because I happened to read about it accidentally the other day. Everyone who witnessed it was ecstatic."
Photo: Vered Silermon
"I saw a small storm moving through the skies," says Yossef Assa from Tel Aviv. "Seeing that I had a camera in the car with me, I stopped in the middle of the road. It was a strange occurrence - not typical of the Tel Aviv skies. It was gone after two minutes".
"We were right under it," says Sharon Weissman, who was in her car at the time, "it was one of the most amazing things I've ever seen. I showed my friends pictures and they were absolutely amazed. Responses were unbelievable".
