A moist and unstable atmosphere was present over the central Mediterranean, together with some wind shear (a difference in wind speed or direction over a relatively short distance in the atmosphere). A thunderstorm with an intense updraft (a current of rising air) ingested and tightened a rotating layer of air. This led to the formation of a confirmed funnel over fields near Għarb in Gozo. The funnel developed at around 10 a.m. and lasted for less than 5 minutes. It whipped dust and lose debris. The same cloud produced a downpour along the northeast coast of Gozo and Malta. Several other funnel clouds were reported over the past few days. The instability that led to the formation of this funnel was also responsible for the series of isolated thunderstorms that affected the Maltese Islands from Saturday 4/9 through to Sunday 12/9.

Thanks to Andrea Muscat and Joseph Casha for the photos and video!