Funnel cloud sighted on outskirts of Derry

Picture taken by DerryNow follower Aidan Feeney today at around 2 30pm from High Park Derry, looking in the direction of Strabane.

placeholder image — Picture taken by DerryNow follower Aidan Feeney today at around 2 30pm from High Park Derry, looking in the direction of Strabane.

Status Yellow weather warning for Derry

A funnel cloud was spotted on the outskirts of the city on Monday afternoon as thunderstorms formed nearby.

Funnel clouds or 'tuba' are extending, spinning fingers of cloud that reach towards the ground, but never touch it. When they do reach the ground they become a tornado.

The sighting comes following Met Éireann's Status Yellow warning today for Derry.

The yellow warning also covers counties Galway, Roscommon, Leitrim, Cavan, Fermanagh and Derry. Meanwhile, an orange thunderstorm and hail warning was extended to most of the north-west and now covers counties Leitrim, Donegal, Sligo and Mayo.

Met Éireann's update on the weather warning tells people in the above counties to expect "heavy downpours with thunderstorms and hail".

They list potential impacts as flash flooding, poor visibility and potential damage to power lines.

The warning is valid from 3pm to 9pm this Monday.

Met Éireann's wider forecast says "Showers developing this afternoon mainly in the northwest and across parts of the midlands, turning rather heavy with thunderstorms, spot flooding and hail. The showers will continue through to this evening. Mainly dry and bright with plenty of sunny spells elsewhere but it will turn cloudier this evening. Highest temperatures of 19 to 23 degrees and light winds."

(Photo taken by DerryNow follower Ian McKeegan)

Tonight: "A few showers in the midlands and the north and west will persist into the night, heavy at times too. Most will clear away overnight with further showers developing towards morning. Winds remaining light with lowest temperatures of 10 to 13 degrees."

Tomorrow: "A cloudy start with showers developing from early morning. The showers will turn heavy and possibly thundery in the east and south for a time in the afternoon and evening. Highest temperatures of 14 to 18 degrees and light winds."