The editor’s opinion from Marketplace, Northeast Wisconsin’s business magazine. (Obligatory disclaimer: Most hyperlinks go to outside sites, and we’re not responsible for their content. And like fresh watermelon, peaches, pineapple, grapefruit, tomatoes and sweet corn, hyperlinks can go bad after a while.)

August 13, 2008

Be on the lookout …

From the National Weather Service in Sullivan:

...FUNNEL CLOUDS POSSIBLE TODAY...

FUNNEL CLOUDS HAVE BEEN REPORTED TODAY NEAR WATERTOWN AND NEAR WESTFIELD IN MARQUETTE COUNTY. THE FUNNELS CLOUDS OCCURRED WITH SCATTERED SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS THAT ARE MOVING ACROSS SOUTHERN WISCONSIN. NO TORNADOES HAVE BEEN REPORTED.

THE MOIST ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS TODAY AND RELATIVELY COLD AIR ALOFT ARE SUPPORTIVE OF BRIEF FUNNEL CLOUDS. THE THREAT OF SEVERE WEATHER IS VERY LOW. IF ANY FUNNEL CLOUDS TOUCHDOWN...THEY ARE EXPECTED TO BE VERY BRIEF AND WEAK WITH VERY LIMITED THREAT TO THE PUBLIC. SCATTERED SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGH THE AFTERNOON WITH FUNNEL CLOUDS POSSIBLE.


From the National Weather Service in Ashwaubenon:

...FUNNEL CLOUDS POSSIBLE TODAY...

AN UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE WILL PRODUCE WEATHER CONDITIONS THAT ARE FAVORABLE FOR FUNNEL CLOUDS THIS AFTERNOON. IN FACT...A FUNNEL CLOUD HAS ALREADY BEEN REPORTED NEAR NEW HOLSTEIN...IN SOUTHEAST CALUMET COUNTY.

THESE RELATIVELY WEAK FUNNELS TYPICALLY FORM FROM A SMALL SHOWER OR THUNDERSTORM...AND RARELY TOUCH THE GROUND. THEY NORMALLY EXTEND A FEW HUNDRED FEET DOWNWARD FROM THE BASE OF THE CLOUD...AND LAST A FEW MINUTES BEFORE DISSIPATING.

ON OCCASION...THESE FUNNELS CAN TOUCH THE GROUND AS A TORNADO...BUT THEY ARE USUALLY QUITE WEAK. THESE TYPE OF TORNADOES ARE MUCH LESS VIOLENT THAN TORNADOES THAT FORM WITH STRONG THUNDERSTORMS OR SUPERCELL THUNDERSTORMS.

IF YOU SEE A FUNNEL CLOUD APPROACHING YOUR LOCATION...SEEK SHELTER INDOORS.

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