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In previous days, Sri Lanka faced severe weather conditions, and there was a lot of misleading information about them. This is our search for some such social media posts.
Social Media Posts
A video circulating on social media platforms, including Facebook, claims to show a massive tornado off the coast of Sri Lanka, accompanied by captions like “Tornado first time in Sri Lanka.” Tik Tok users shared the video with the caption “Is Sri Lanka under another threat, this time from tornadoes?”Many versions of the video include added background audio of thunder
We decided to do a fact check on this.
Fact Check
Weather Conditions in Sri Lanka
The Meteorological Department of Sri Lanka issued a red weather warning on November 28, 2024, highlighting thunderstorms, showers, and strong winds due to a “deep depression over the southwest Bay of Bengal.” The system, located northeast of Trincomalee and east of Mullaittivu, was expected to intensify as it moved closer to Sri Lanka’s east coast. While there was speculation that this depression could escalate into a cyclone, no reports or warnings mentioned a tornado.
Origin of the Viral Video
A reverse image search of keyframes from the viral footage revealed that it was originally posted two years ago. The video, published by some journalists on 30 October 2022, shows a waterspout, a weather phenomenon. Unlike the edited viral version, the early video does not have sounds/sound effects of thunder . However, in these videos they misleadingly reported it as Tornado.
Waterspouts vs. Tornadoes
A waterspout is defined as a weak, rotating column of air over water, typically forming under a towering cumulus cloud. It is a relatively harmless phenomenon, especially in tropical and subtropical regions like Sri Lanka. In contrast, a tornado is a violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground, capable of causing severe destruction.More details can be read here NOAA definitions over these phenomenon can be read here
The phenomenon seen in the video is a waterspout, not a tornado. Similar occurrences have been observed in Sri Lanka, such as the waterspout reported in Bambalapitiya on September 22, 2023. These events are neither new in the region.
A tornado related news published in Sunday Times in 2009, can be read here
Expert Opinion
Janaka Kumaragamage, a meteorologist from the Sri Lanka Meteorological Department, clarified that while tornado events have occurred in Sri Lanka’s history, they are infrequent. He also confirmed that tornado type situations happening in sea depicts a waterspout, emphasizing that such phenomena have been observed in the country for years.
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Conclusion
The viral video claiming to show Sri Lanka’s “first tornado” is misleading. It actually depicts a waterspout recorded off Point Pedro beach in 2022. Waterspouts are common weather phenomena in coastal areas and should not be confused with tornadoes. The addition of dramatic audio and captions in the viral version further distorts the facts. Social media users are advised to verify such claims before sharing them.Also tornado incidents happened in Sri Lanka`in history and if even tornado happen now, it`s not the first incident.
Title:Viral Video Claiming “First Tornado in Sri Lanka” is Misleading
Fact Check By: Kalana KrishanthaResult: Misleading
