It was a terrifying scene for some Brantford residents who spotted a funnel cloud over the city on Saturday, September 21, 2024.
This summer has been particularly active for extreme weather in the region, with a high number of tornadoes recorded and funnel clouds witnessed.
Brantford resident Kelly Mahoney said she saw her first funnel cloud in the sky above her driveway.
“Lately the weather is very unpredictable, you never know what’s going to happen. I was watching the skies, I saw one cloud, it didn’t look good and then I heard the heavy rain,” said Mahoney.
Earlier this year, one confirmed tornado ripped through Fort Erie causing severe damage. Then, on August 17, another tornado ripped through the roof of a Home Hardware in the town of Ayr that also caused damage to nearby homes and properties.
CHCH weatherman Steve Ruddick said Saturday’s conditions were the perfect recipe for a potential tornado.
“There was low pressure coming in, it was strong. It starts to develop tight knots and that’s what developed yesterday,” explained Ruddick.
Ruddick advises if you see a funnel cloud to quickly get indoors. Although most times a funnel cloud doesn’t hit the ground, it can cause extensive damage if it does.
The difference between a funnel cloud and a tornado is while both are rotating weather systems, the funnel cloud becomes a tornado when it touches the ground.
