LAKE VERMILION— The National Weather Service reported a funnel cloud that touched down here this past Sunday afternoon, creating a large waterspout that was reported, photographed and video recorded by numerous individuals who were on the lake at the time.
According to the weather service, the waterspout developed about a half mile west of the westernmost tip of Ely Island and slowly made its way to the north-northeast across Big Bay before dissipating near Spider Island. “It may have passed near or over Spider Island,” noted the weather service in a Facebook post. “It also passed through the vicinity of Taylor and Stonich islands. As of this time, no damage reports have been received from these islands which do have structures on them, so the waterspout may have remained over the water. Based on photos and videos, the waterspout was about 30 yards wide and was on the water for about two miles.”
The weather service rated the waterspout, which is technically a tornado over water, as an EF0, which is the weakest rating for a tornado. It was first reported at 2:17 p.m. on Sunday afternoon and appears to have maintained its contact with the water’s surface for approximately five minutes.