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‘Very wild’ reverse storm funnel forms over Lake Michigan, meteorologist says. See it

The unusual reverse funnel formed offshore of Mequon, Wisconsin.
The unusual reverse funnel formed offshore of Mequon, Wisconsin. Getty Images/iStockphoto

Wisconsin residents captured photos of an unusual storm formation over Lake Michigan, marking a first for a local meteorologist.

“Hard to really say what we’re looking at, but I would assume some very humid air condensing as it cools in a storm updraft,” TMJ4 News Chief Meteorologist Brian Niznansky said in an Aug. 27 Facebook post with a photo of the phenomenon.

“I’ve never seen it form in a reverse funnel shape,” Niznansky said. “Very wild.”

The photo was taken just offshore of Mequon on the afternoon of Aug. 27, the meteorologist said. According to the National Weather Service’s Milwaukee office, thunderstorms and a sinking cold front were forecast that day.

Local residents shared their own photos and reactions to the unusual formation under Niznansky’s post.

“That’s the wildest storm cloud I have ever seen,” Brian Lund said.

“That would’ve had me hiding in the basement, never seen anything like it!” Tori Lynn commented.

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This story was originally published August 29, 2024 at 3:51 PM with the headline "‘Very wild’ reverse storm funnel forms over Lake Michigan, meteorologist says. See it."

Lauren Liebhaber
mcclatchy-newsroom
Lauren Liebhaber covers international science news with a focus on taxonomy and archaeology at McClatchy. She holds a bachelor’s degree from St. Lawrence University and a master’s degree from the Newhouse School at Syracuse University. Previously, she worked as a data journalist at Stacker.
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