В Аляске зафиксировано появление воронкообразного облака, не достигшего земли

Funnel cloud sighting in Interior Alaska prompts social media stir CANTWELL, Alaska (KTUU) - On Saturday, July 4th, sightings of a tornado were reported in Interior Alaska near Cantwell, south of Alpine Creek Lodge. What cycled around the internet and caused a stir for alleged tornado sightings, was discovered to only be a funnel cloud. The funnel shape of the cloud never seemed to make contact with the ground, which was displayed in video footage as well as radar data. Funnel clouds develop from the base of a thunderstorm, extended downward as the column of air churns. They can often form into tornados, but if they do not make direct contact with the ground, then the air column only remains classified as a funnel cloud and not a tornado. Anchorage’s National Weather Service Office said in a Public Information Statement, “Radar shows that the parent cloud reached about 30k ft and produced a single cloud-to-ground lightning strike at 5:14pm.” The National Weather Service also added, “Based on area observations and local topography, this funnel was likely generated by Susitna Valley winds flowing against storm motion winds, creating enough wind shear to generate a funnel cloud.” Alaska is no stranger to tornados, though they are a rare occurrence. With summer-time convection, thunderstorms often develop and with them, sometimes funnel clouds. Alaska has seen eight confirmed tornados on record and over a dozen funnel clouds. Alaska’s topography and climate do not favor tornadic development but it doesn’t make the phenomena impossible. See a spelling or grammar error? Report it to [email protected] Copyright 2026 KTUU. All rights reserved.