Cold Air Funnels - What are they?

    Our area has seen many of these Cold-Air Funnels as of late. But what are they? Are they dangerous? And why hasn't there been any Tornado Warnings Issued. I spoke with some of our friends at the National Weather Service and gathered some information to share with you! 

    Cold air funnels form beneath showers or weak thunderstorms when the air aloft is especially cold. The funnels are most common in the fall and spring when the sun is able to heat up the lower levels of the atmosphere, causing convection to bubble up and form showers, but temperatures around 15,000 to 20,000 feet above the ground are quite cold. Cold air funnels are usually harmless, but on rare occasions they can touch down and cause EF-0 level (winds up to 85 mph) tornado damage. It is usually not necessary for the National Weather Service to issue Tornado Warnings for cold air funnels since it is so rare for them to make it all the way to the ground and become a tornado. They are also difficult to detect on radar since they are very weak. Spotter and public reports are essential when cold air funnels are in the area. The NWS will usually issue a Special Weather Statement when cold air funnels have been reported. Of course, a Tornado Warning will still be issued if it is felt that a funnel will touch down.

    It is important to keep in mind that Tornado Warnings are only issued if spotters on the ground have visual contact of a tornado on the ground, or if the NWS feels that there is enough evidence on radar to support a warning. This is why it is very important for us to have storm spotters out looking for theses areas during times of severe weather. Especially if we are in a Tornado Watch, or if there are concerns that the environment is unstable enough to produce tornadoes. NWS does not initiate a Tornado Warning for funnel clouds, as funnels can typically bounce up and down from wall clouds as the storm system travels through an area. However, funnel clouds, when reaching the ground, become tornadoes, and that is immediately communicated to the National Weather Service and to our local dispatch centers. Stanton County EMA now has capabilities to communicate directly with the NWS in real-time, so warnings or special weather statements can be issued much faster!