Tornados In Firth Of Forth

[Cookie]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/8443441.stm

Two mini tornados have been spotted off the coast of Fife in the Firth of Forth.

The Forth Coastguard said it monitored two water spouts measuring about 600ft high at 1230 GMT on Wednesday.

They said each mini tornado lasted about five minutes and both were travelling west towards the Isle of May. No damage was reported.

It comes amid weather chaos in Scotland following prolonged snowfalls across the country.

Ice skaters and walkers are being warned not to venture onto frozen canals as the cold weather continues.

British Waterways Scotland (BWS) has urged people to keep off the Union Canal, which runs from Edinburgh to Falkirk.

The warning came as witnesses reported seeing ice skaters and footprints on the waterway at Meggetland.

A BWS spokeswoman said: "No one should walk on frozen waters under any circumstances, no matter how tempting."

Forth & Clyde Canal

Canals across Scotland have frozen over in the recent cold snap

Phil Martin, BWS Lowlands manager, said: "Winter is a lovely time to visit the Union Canal.

"It is vital, though, that people recognise that they need to take extra care.

"Children in particular should always be accompanied by an adult when they visit the canal and should be made aware of the potential hazards and the need to stay safe and stay away from the edge at all times."

The weather has also brought problems on roads to the south of Edinburgh.

The A702 is closed at Hillend in Midlothian and the A1 is badly affected between Edinburgh and Dunbar.

The A68 is not advised south of Pathhead in Midlothian.

The A701 Dumfries to Edinburgh road is closed at Moffat and there is heavy snow on the M74 around junction 13 Abington in South Lanarkshire.

[lorenzo]

Wow

[dave48]

Interesting, nw radar at that time does show a pretty strong precip core out to sea, could have been associated with that cell. Thanks for posting.

[Cookie]

I cant get over the hight of it!

600 feet!

[shuggee]

Newspaper report and photo:

http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/Rare-sea-tornadoes-pictured-on.5962644.jp