[StBernard] Funnel cloud seen in St. Bernard Parish

[Westley Annis]

Funnel cloud seen in St. Bernard Parish
Carl Arredondo, 2:05 p.m. CDT September 16, 2014

Viewers have sent in numerous pictures of a funnel cloud in St. Bernard
Parish today. Chief Meteorologist Carl Arredondo has the following
explainer:

We have seen some tropical funnels today, and it isn't uncommon during the
warm months to see them. You don't need severe weather or thunderstorms for
these kinds of funnel clouds. They can reach the ground, but usually are
weak.

Weak doesn't mean that they can do some damage, but generally they are not
like severe thunderstorm funnels or tornadoes that form which can be
stronger.

The motion in the atmosphere as you go up is light and variable and with all
the outflow boundaries colliding with each other, you can get some rotation.
If a funnel cloud reaches the ground, it is a tornado.

If it reaches water, it is a waterspout.