Sky vortex captured on camera in Pavlodar
In the heart of Kazakhstan, residents of Pavlodar city were left in awe on August 1, 2025, as they witnessed a rare and terrifying weather event. A funnel-like cloud, reminiscent of a tornado or waterspout, was spotted in the sky over the Irtysh river.
The sight was a spectacle that left many, including Bota, a commentator, and Kanat Aman, a resident of Pavlodar, in a state of fear. Some individuals in Aralsk, though no specific details about the event are provided, also perceived this event as terrifying on an unspecified previous day.
The phenomenon, though not as common, was a local weather event that accompanies a storm. Irina Anokhina, head of the weather forecasting department at the Pavlodar branch of AO "Kazhydromet", explained that such events are possible during summer seasons, especially when storm fronts are powerful enough to generate strong rotating updrafts.
However, meteorologists have confirmed that the observed phenomenon was not a tornado or a waterspout. Instead, it was a waterspout-like phenomenon that remained over the river for almost ten minutes.
The aftermath of the event was not without consequences. While one part of Pavlodar experienced rain and hail, another only saw increased wind. Natalia Protskaya, a resident of Pavlodar, captured the phenomenon over the Uspenskoye microdistrict on camera.
As for the weather forecast for the rest of August, Kazhydromet has reported that the last month of summer is expected to be moderately hot in most of the country, with temperatures above normal expected in the south and southwest of the republic.
Despite the fear and awe inspired by this event, Aikos, another commentator, dismisses it as being just a rat's tail. Regardless of one's opinion, the event serves as a reminder of the unpredictable and powerful forces of nature that we encounter in our world.
[1] Weather Online (2025). Unusual Weather Phenomenon Strikes Pavlodar, Kazakhstan. Retrieved from https://weatheronline.com/news/2025/08/unusual-weather-phenomenon-strikes-pavlodar-kazakhstan
[2] Kazhydromet (2025). August Weather Forecast in Kazakhstan. Retrieved from https://kazhydromet.kz/en/weather/forecast/august-weather-forecast-in-kazakhstan
- The unusual weather phenomenon that occurred over the Irtysh river in Pavlodar, Kazakhstan on August 1, 2025, left many residents, including Bota and Kanat Aman, in a state of fear.
- Despite the dismissive remarks of some, such as Aikos, the waterspout-like phenomenon that struck Pavlodar serves as a reminder of the unpredictable and powerful forces of nature that we encounter in our world.
