Since the weekend, the UK has been hit by some severe thunderstorms bringing frequent lightning, hail, and flash flooding.
We have had more than 23,000 lightning strikes since Saturday. There have also been reports and pictures from our Weather Watchers and social media of what appear to be tornadoes.
However, in most cases these are actually funnel clouds. While a funnel cloud may look exactly like a tornado, the official definition of a tornado calls for it to be touching the ground and accompanied by violently rotating winds.
Therefore, not all funnel clouds develop into tornadoes.
Weather Watcher Alyson captured this funnel cloud on camera at Ingleborough in the Yorkshire Dales on Monday. It appears to be not quite reaching the ground.
This is not to say we don't get tornadoes in the UK. In fact, typically around 30-50 tornadoes hit the UK each year.
It's important to note, though, that they are normally very small and cause very localised - often just street level - damage. They are nothing like the big and powerful tornadoes seen in the United States.
The heat and humidity we have had over the last few days has helped big thunderstorms develop. These storms have contained a lot of energy - something meteorologists call Convective Available Potential Energy, or CAPE.
There has also been high wind shear - when wind speed and direction changes with height. This allows rotation to develop within the storms - a vital ingredient for funnel clouds and tornadoes, and which can help to create even bigger storms.
We know these types of storms can bring frequent lightning, hail, torrential rain and in some cases weak tornadoes.
When can we say we've had a tornado and not just a funnel cloud? That's the tricky part. In built-up areas or rolling landscapes, it is often difficult for an eyewitness to see a funnel cloud actually touching the ground.
As they also tend to be small and don't last very long, they can be missed. The verification process is normally done on investigating any damage it may cause.
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More thunderstorms are forecast on Tuesday and Wednesday which could again bring the potential for funnel clouds and a weak tornado. Forecasting exactly where these will hit and at what time though is a challenge. It's worth keeping an eye on the forecast and any warnings issued.
