Funnel cloud spotted near Monroe

Published 10:48 pm Friday, June 4, 2010

MONROE — A funnel cloud was spotted by several people shortly before 5:30 p.m. Friday east of Monroe, according to the National Weather Service in Seattle.

“It probably didn’t last very long, maybe a minute at most,” said Johnny Burg, a meteorologist with the weather service.

It’s not believed the cloud touched the ground. There were no reports of damage, Burg said.

Several people sent photos to the weather service, he said.

“One of the pictures looks like it may have come close” to contacting the ground, Burg said. “It looks like it didn’t but we can’t say for sure it hasn’t.”

The funnel cloud was caused by a convergence zone, a phenomenon in which winds from different directions meet in one area, he said.