Woman Captures Extremely Rare Mountain Tornado on Camera in Montana

Yes, tornados can sometimes develop on mountains, not just on plains.

Isley Reust was busy doing yard work at her home in Mission Valley in western Montana when she spotted a rare funnel cloud forming above the nearby snowy mountains. She quickly went in to grab her camera, only to return to the spectacle of a tornado forming from the dark clouds. The footage has been widely circulated online, leaving viewers amazed.

Funnel cloud just now over Mission Valley in Montana. #montana #tornados pic.twitter.com/LPcVWpxNvw

— ISLEY REUST (@isleyreust) May 9, 2023

Contrary to popular belief that tornadoes cannot form on mountains, the National Weather Service states that it is indeed possible, albeit uncommon. Numerous documented instances exist where tornadoes have been observed forming atop mountains. In the current scenario, what we are witnessing is not a fully developed tornado but rather a funnel cloud.

What sets them apart? Although both are characterized by rapidly rotating columns of air, there is one notable distinction. Tornadoes require contact with the ground, whereas funnel clouds do not. Interestingly, funnel clouds have the potential to transition into tornadoes upon reaching the ground or transform into waterspouts if they touch down on water.

As per meteorologists’ analysis, what we are witnessing is a possible occurrence of a landspout tornado, which is comparatively less powerful than a typical tornado but still capable of causing damage. Although the event was of brief duration, it provided an impressive spectacle for everyone present in the vicinity.

Reust later confirmed in a comment that she saw from another video angle that it did indeed touch the ground.