7:12 PM Tue, Apr 17, 2007 | Permalink
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They were MORE than just showers today. Some of the garden variety rain cells we see so many of in Oregon grew into strong thunderstorms, two producing "cold air" funnel clouds like the one pictured below.
Another funnel cloud was spotted near Hillsboro around 4 pm. These weak cousins to the monster tornadoes of the mid-western states are rare, but we usually get a few each spring and fall. During these seasons, it's common for very cold air aloft (10-20,000 ft) to move over Oregon. But the sun is strong enough to warm the ground and the low level air. This temperature difference can create strong updrafts, and when wind changes direction with elevation, those updrafts can begin to rotate, forming a funnel cloud. It's very rare for these cold air funnels to reach the ground and graduate to tornado status, rarer still for them to cause damage. But they sure are cool to witness! The most likely time of day is in the afternoon, but as we saw today they can form earlier in the day too. So keep an eye on the sky and a camera handy, and be sure to email any cool weather pics you capture to kgw.com.
Thanks for watching and surfing KGW.
Matt Zaffino
Chief Meteorologist
Northwest Newschannel 8
Your weather report is very important to us as farmers in Enterprise, OR. However, nine times out of ten you and your copartners stand so we cannot see are part of the state showing us the forecast. Please remember the people on the eastern border.
Thank You in advance.