Funnel cloud spotted south of Calgary

A funnel cloud was spotted in southern Alberta on Tuesday afternoon.

The spiraling cloud was seen near Bar U Ranch and Highway 22 in Nanton, Alta., after a rainstorm.

“That is what is known as a cold-air funnel — often incorrectly called a cold-core funnel — and these types of funnels originate in cold-core thunderstorms,” said Paul Dunphy, weather anchor at Global Calgary. “They usually don’t touch down and so aren’t considered to be a great threat, however, they still sometimes do. If they do touch down, they become a tornado and as such, can be dangerous.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "That is what is known as a cold-air funnel — often incorrectly called a cold-core funnel — and these types of funnels originate in cold-core thunderstorms," said <a href="https://twitter.com/paul_dunphy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Paul Dunphy</a>, weather anchor at Global Calgary. "They usually don't touch down and so aren't considered to be a great threat, however, they still sometimes do. If they do touch down, they become a tornado and as such, can be dangerous."

“These funnels are different and usually not as dangerous as funnel clouds that form in supercell thunderstorms,” he explained.

Environment Canada said Wednesday the landspout tornado briefly touched down.

According to Dunphy, the small tornado formed in a thunderstorm that moved west to east across the Nanton area.

Officials didn’t know the strength of the funnel cloud and said there was no damage reported. Environment Canada is asking anyone with photos of the small tornado to send them in.