Possible Tornado Spotted Above Marsden West Yorkshire

On July 21, a swirling vortex of clouds resembling a tornado was observed and filmed near Marsden, West Yorkshire along the A62. The Met Office stated that the phenomenon may have been a tornado or a funnel cloud, which only qualifies as a tornado if it touches the ground. The UK experiences around 30-35 tornadoes annually, a high number considering its land area, though most are weak and rarely cause significant damage. Funnel clouds form from rotating columns of wind drawing in cloud droplets, typically associated with cumulonimbus thunderclouds and severe weather such as hail and lightning. The striking footage captured by Bradleigh Hancock, whose family witnessed the event, has gone viral and sparked interest in tornado occurrences in the UK. Experts emphasize that while tornadoes are often associated with the central US, the UK has one of the highest tornado rates per land area globally.