June 4, 2014 4.51 pm This story is over 117 months old

Tornado spotted near Lincoln

Captured by readers: Tornado-like events have been spotted near Lincoln and across Lincolnshire.

Tornado-like events have been spotted near Lincoln after 4pm on June 4.

Readers sent to The Lincolnite photos of what look like tornadoes, visible from North Hykeham, Welton, Scampton, Belton, Witham St Hughs, Carlton Le Moorland and even as far as Pinxton near Mansfield and Alkborough in North Lincolnshire.

Tornadoes form when the weather is unstable and showery, according to the Met Office.

They are narrow, spinning columns of air that reach the ground from cumulonimbus (thunderstorm) clouds.

As they develop, funnel shaped clouds extend from the base of the cloud, and it is only when these funnel clouds touch the ground a tornado is formed.

The June 4 tornado spotted in Welton, near Lincoln, by Shelly Wilkinson

The June 4 tornado spotted in Welton, near Lincoln, by Shelly Wilkinson

Charlotte Batty also spotted the tornado from Welton on June 4, 2014

Charlotte Batty also spotted the tornado from Welton on June 4, 2014

The tornado above Welton spotted by Charlotte Batty

The tornado above Welton spotted by Charlotte Batty

The tornado was even spotted at Hykeham Green, North Hykeham, by Sue Stanley.

The tornado was even spotted at Hykeham Green, North Hykeham, by Sue Stanley.

This image was captured by Tracey Woodford in Belton.

This image was captured by Tracey Woodford in Belton.

Photo: Joe Trevor

Photo: Joe Trevor

Photo: Larry Haycocks

Photo: Larry Haycocks

Three funnel clouds taken at Witham St Hughs Allotments by Peter Rothwell Syme

Three funnel clouds taken at Witham St Hughs Allotments by Peter Rothwell Syme

A spilt funnel cloud snapped by Steve Simeoli in Witham St Hughs.

A spilt funnel cloud snapped by Steve Simeoli in Witham St Hughs.

Taken by Kim Raffles in Witham St Hughs.

Taken by Kim Raffles in Witham St Hughs.

Taken by Matt Keeber in Witham St Hughs.

Taken by Matt Keeber in Witham St Hughs.

At 4:40 pm taken in Carlton Le Moorland by Susan Mouzon

At 4:40 pm taken in Carlton Le Moorland by Susan Mouzon

John Ringer was working in Crowland when he spotted the funnel cloud.

John Ringer was working in Crowland when he spotted the funnel cloud.

Funnel clouds in Alkborough , North Lincolnshire on June 4. Photo: Lorna Staves

Funnel clouds in Alkborough , North Lincolnshire on June 4. Photo: Lorna Staves

Tornado-like cloud also spotted in Pinxton, Mansfield by Natasha Williamson on June 4

Tornado-like cloud also spotted in Pinxton, Mansfield by Natasha Williamson on June 4

Spotted in Skellingthorpe by Ollie Walling.

Spotted in Skellingthorpe by Ollie Walling.

The funnel clouds captured by Kelly Evans near Newark on June 4

The funnel clouds captured by Kelly Evans near Newark on June 4

Tom Christopher captured the funnel clouds from Fiskerton

Tom Christopher captured the funnel clouds from Fiskerton