Source: Irish Weather Online

While tornadoes are relatively rare in Ireland, funnel clouds are a more regular occurrence. Funnel clouds are condensation funnels extending from the base of a towering cumulus or Cb, associated with a rotating column of air that is not in contact with the ground On this day in 2008 a funnel cloud formed in the skies over Bellewstown, County Meath.

John Bellews captured this dramatic shot of the rotating funnel which formed during a thunderstorm on 10th July 2008.

Meanwhile, Mike O’Rourke emailed IWO a picture of a funnel cloud near Kilmore village in County Wexford on Saturday, 9th July 2011. According to Mike, the funnel cloud was dissipating by the time he was able to snap the below picture.

Declan Kearney also emailed us today with this image of what appears to be a funnel cloud or waterspout near the County Wexford coastline today, Sunday 10 July 2011.  The lack of video evidence showing whether there was any rotation above the funnel makes it extremely difficult to confirm whether the structure was indeed a funnel cloud/waterspout.

While tornadoes are relatively rare in Ireland, funnel clouds and water spouts are a more regular occurrence.  Funnel clouds are condensation funnels extending from the base of a towering cumulus or Cb, associated with a rotating column of air that is not in contact with the ground.

Water spouts, which are more commonly associated with tropical or subtropical waters, are small, relatively weak rotating columns of air over water beneath a Cb or towering cumulus cloud.