Terre Haute, IN Severe Weather Alertstar_ratehome

...COLD AIR FUNNELS POSSIBLE SATURDAY...

Generally funnel clouds develop and occur in conjunction with
conditions that produce severe thunderstorms.

An entirely different conditions are expected across Central
Indiana Saturday. There is little potential for severe
thunderstorms.

Research studies of funnel cloud occurrences indicate that a
different type of funnel cloud forms when weather conditions are
similar to those expected for Saturday. These are called cold air
funnels and are not as violent as those associated with warm and
humid conditions.

Cold air funnels are associated with thunderstorms or showers
that form in deep, cold-core, large-scale low pressure systems.
These funnel clouds are smooth and narrow. The parent storm or
shower is not particularly tall or intense. These funnel clouds
normally protrude a few hundred feet downward from the parent
clouds, rotate or spin like a top, and last only a few minutes
before dissipating.

In rare cases when their circulations does reach the ground, cold
air funnels cause only minor damage. More reports of small funnel
clouds are possible over Central Indiana Saturday. Warnings will
be issued if any of them touch the ground.