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A concerning sight in the sky for several viewers on Wednesday afternoon. But was it a tornado?

  • West from the Ledges on Longs Peak. Photo Scott C. Garcia.
  • West from the Ledges on Longs Peak
  • South Arapaho Peak, looking generally north. Photo Andrew Gagnon.
  • South Arapaho Peak, looking generally north. Photo Andrew Gagnon.
  • South Arapaho Peak, looking generally north. Photo Andrew Gagnon.

According to Meteorologist Chris Tomer, yes, it was, but not in the traditional sense. He believes it is a type of tornado called a Non-Supercell Landspout or Cold Air Funnel.

Normally these rank on the low-end of the Fujita scale of tornado intensity. These are not the traditional type of tornadoes that form in Tornado Alley.

He also pulled up radar from 12:15 p.m. on Wednesday, and it confirms the location of a storm cell with appropriate intensity.