A near-tornado was recorded in Vega Baja during a thunderstorm.

Atmospheric vortex formation during a thunderstorm in Vega Baja del Segura. Photo: Antoñita Almodóvar

In one of the municipalities of the Vega Baja del Segura region, during the passage of a powerful thunderstorm front, local residents observed a swirling atmospheric phenomenon visually resembling a tornado or waterspout.

A photograph capturing this episode, taken by Antoñita Almodóvar and published on social media, subsequently sparked a lively discussion among residents of the region.

The image shows a narrow, funnel-shaped cloud column extending from the thunderstorm toward the ground. According to preliminary data, the phenomenon was observed in a rural area between the municipalities of Los Montesinos, Catral, and Almoradí, where heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, and sharp increases in winds were recorded that day.

According to meteorological observers and data discussed in specialized communities, wind gusts during the thunderstorm could have reached 80–100 km/h. These characteristics are typical of a reventón húmedo—a powerful downburst that sometimes forms short-lived vortex structures similar in appearance to a tornado.

At the time of publication, there was no official confirmation of the formation of a classified tornado from AEMET or civil protection services. Experts emphasize that in southeastern Spain, such visual effects are most often associated with localized atmospheric vortices that persist for short periods.

Vega Baja has experienced extreme weather events before. The most famous remains the October 1999 tornado in the Orihuela region, which caused significant damage to agricultural land and infrastructure with wind gusts exceeding 200 km/h. In recent years, the region has also repeatedly experienced the effects of severe thunderstorms and DANA events.

According to municipal authorities, there have been no reports of casualties or serious damage in the current event.