Thunderstorms with strong updrafts were reported over Tamil Nadu's Thoothukudi district on Sunday, sparking online claims of a tornado. A video of the phenomenon was widely shared on social media. However, the Met department denied the occurrence of a tornado, attributing it to an east-west trough and localized convective activity.
The regional meteorological department said the observed funnel-like feature was likely associated with strong updrafts beneath a cumulonimbus cloud, lifting dust and creating a rotating column of air. Director VR Durai explained it as a localized convective vortex, dust whirl, or transient funnel cloud.
