Cold air funnel spotted in Mid-Missouri

A rare weather event was spotted over Mid-Missouri recently, resembling a funnel cloud overhead. However, this funnel was different and posed no danger.

Megan Johnson snapped a photo of a cold air funnel near Hallsville around 5:20 p.m. on Thursday afternoon. The funnel was very thin and located high above the ground.

This was most likely a cold air funnel, a weak funnel cloud that forms when a pocket of cold air moves over warmer land. Regions of cold air are typically associated with low pressure, which causes rotation in the atmosphere. But this rotation is weak and not strengthened by a mesocyclone, the parent of a tornado.

Cold air funnels are very weak and rarely touch the ground. The National Weather Service won't issue warnings for these funnels unless they reach the surface. They can receive tornado warnings if they do reach the ground, but they usually cause limited damage.

So, while this may look spooky, cold air funnels are not a safety threat. If you see a funnel reach the ground, go to shelter immediately and, if safe, report it to local media or the National Weather Service.

If you spot any cold air funnels this season, you can send photos to our newsroom via email and our news apps.