July 23, 2010

Funnel cloud spotted nearby

       Shortly after 2 pm yesterday afternoon dozens of calls came in to the dispatch center reporting a funnel cloud in the area of State Road 135 just south of Stones Crossing Road.  Several police units that were in the area were already aware and tracking the storm as it moved to the east.  The fire department Battalion Chief on duty quickly noticed the rope-like funnel as it was forming and snapped a couple of photos (shown below).  The funnel cloud touched down a few times in a field near Tracy Road and State Road 135 causing damage to a barn nearby.  No other damage was reported as the storm quickly dissipated.  The Weather Service confirmed the storm and categorized it as a Land Spout, a type of very weak tornado.
 

        
(Click on a thumbnail to enlarge photo)
    

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