El Retiro Park has once again become the protagonist in social networks and media after the appearance of an unusual meteorological phenomenon in the heart of Madrid. A video recorded in the Retiro pond has gone viral on TikTok and other platforms: it shows what looks like a small tornado moving on the water, while dozens of people ride on the mythical boats and some even lose their balance and fall into the water.
The images have generated thousands of comments and questions. Many users, surprised, have baptized the phenomenon as “the Retiro tornado”, although experts and witnesses have clarified that it is actually a “mini waterspout” or waterspout, a swirl of wind that forms on water surfaces and that, although striking, does not reach the intensity or structure of a real tornado. As explained in TikTok, for a real tornado to form, it would be necessary for the vortex to reach the clouds and for there to be a much greater temperature difference between the water and the air.
The phenomenon occurred in the context of a weather alert in Madrid. In recent weeks, the City Council has activated several times the orange alert in El Retiro and other large parks due to the forecast of wind gusts of up to 40 km/h and temperatures above 35º C, following the safety protocol to avoid incidents due to falling branches or trees. These conditions, together with the low humidity of the ground, favor the appearance of whirlwinds and other atmospheric phenomena unusual in the city.
Confusion over a sea sleeve in the Retiro.
The video, which has already been seen by millions of people, has given rise to all kinds of reactions: from those who joke that it looks like a “Pokémon” to those who wonder if Madrid is experiencing accelerated climate change. The truth is that, beyond the scare and the spectacular images, the event has not left serious damage, although it has served as a reminder of the importance of respecting the alerts and safety recommendations in the urban parks of the capital.
In short, the “tornado” of the Retiro has been an unusual meteorological phenomenon that has left amazed passers-by, mostly tourists, and users of networks, showing that even in the center of Madrid nature can surprise with episodes as viral as unpredictable.