What are cold air funnels?
Cold air funnel clouds are similar to regular funnel clouds in many ways. A funnel cloud is a rotating area of cloudiness which generally extends from the base of a large thunderstorm cloud. If a cloud touches the ground, it is known as a tornado. Typically, these thunderstorms form in relatively warm air masses. However, under certain circumstances, funnel clouds can form in relatively cold air masses, for example following the passage of a cold front. This occurs most frequently in the fall or in the spring. These funnel clouds rarely reach the ground so they don’t generally become tornadoes.
Cold air funnel clouds are similar to regular funnel clouds in many ways. A funnel cloud is a rotating column of air and water droplets (the water droplets make up the cloud that we see) which generally extends from the base of a large cumulus cloud or thunderstorm. If a funnel cloud touches the ground, it is known as a tornado. Typically, thunderstorms which produce significant tornadoes form in relatively warm air masses. However, under certain circumstances, funnel clouds can form from non-thunderstorm clouds in relatively cold air masses, for example following the passage of a cold front. This occurs most frequently in the fall or in the spring. These funnel clouds rarely reach the ground so they don’t generally become tornadoes.
