THE sight of an unusual weather phenomenon on Friday teased the curiosity of Guyanese, many of whom saw a funnel cloud twirling over the East Bank of Demerara in the vicinity of Providence.

Funnel clouds usually form during a thunderstorm or heavy shower from a cumulonimbus cloud or a large cumulus cloud when the atmosphere is unstable. The cloud formation was spotted during the morning hours on Friday.

Funnel clouds consist of condensed water droplets and is associated with a column of air that rotates as it is drawn into the cloud.

They look like cone-shaped or thin rope-like protuberances which hang down from the cloud base, and often do not last very long.

According to a BBC report, if a funnel cloud touches the ground it is generally regarded as a tornado and could lift debris and even cause some minor damage.

If a funnel cloud touches down at sea we get what is known as a waterspout.
In August 2011, a waterspout was spotted outside the West Coast of Demerara over the Atlantic Ocean. The phenomenon lasted several minutes before dissipating.