Story By: Ana Lacasa, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Newsflash

This is the moment a vortex is seen spiralling high into the sky complete with lightning above a Mexican town in lockdown for coronavirus.

The weather phenomenon took place in the municipality of Zapotlan de Juarez, in the central-eastern Mexican state of Hidalgo, and was recorded by local residents.

According to the sub-Secretary of Civil Protection of the Government of the State of Hidalgo, Enrique Padilla Hernandez, the phenomenon seen in the area is known as a “nube embudo” (funnel cloud).

A funnel cloud is associated with a rotating column of wind which extends from the base of a cloud but not does not reach the ground or a water surface.

In the videos, the vortex can be seen spiralling high into the cloudy sky and lightning can be seen above the town.

Hernandez added: “Due to the conditions, a funnel cloud was formed, if it touches the ground, it is considered a tornado, but in this case it was not a supercell”.

A supercell is a thunderstorm characterized by the presence of a deep, persistently rotating updraft which often spawn tornados.

in the metropolitan area of Pachuca, which is near Zapotlan, a strong rainstorm was registered on Saturday, according to local media, accompanied by strong winds and hailstones in some areas of the municipality.

The Civil Protection said that some trees collapsed during Saturday night in the southern zones of the metropolitan area due to strong winds.

No injuries have been reported in the incident but some material damage has been registered.