Funnel cloud spotted over Mitchell, Ont. on Thursday

A funnel cloud spotted near Mitchell, Ont. on July 10, 2025. (Courtesy: Michelle Murray/Facebook)

People in Mitchell, Ont. may have been surprised to see a funnel cloud in the sky on Thursday afternoon.

Dr. David Sills, the director of the Northern Tornadoes Project at Western University, said it happened as a system moved across the community.

“Sometimes a weak vortex can be produced as a cloud is rapidly growing,” he told CTV News. “If the resulting storm is strong enough, that vortex can reach tornadic strength, but any resulting damage would be highly localized and usually rate EF0 or EF1. These are known as ‘landspout’ tornadoes.”

The funnel cloud above Mitchell, however, resulted from a rain shower and not a thunderstorm.

“The vortex was likely far too weak at ground level to be considered even an EF0 tornado,” Sills said, adding that there was no damage reported.

Even though it was more of a curiosity than a concern, the funnel cloud will be added to a database compiled by the Northern Tornadoes Project. Sills said they keep track of funnel cloud sightings over land.