Full Notification

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PORTLAND OR
233 PM PDT THU SEP 17 2015

...FUNNEL CLOUDS REPORTED NEAR HILLSBORO AND ALBANY THIS
AFTERNOON...

AT 130 PM...A FUNNEL CLOUD WAS REPORTED NEAR HILLSBORO BY
WASHINGTON EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. A SECOND REPORT OF A FUNNEL CLOUD NEAR ALBANY TOOK PLACE AFTER 2 PM. IN BOTH CASES...IT APPEARS THE FUNNEL CLOUD DID NOT TOUCH THE GROUND. THE FUNNEL CLOUDS WERE BRIEF AND HAVE SINCE DISSIPATED.

THE AIR MASS OVER NORTHWEST OREGON AND SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON IS
UNSTABLE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING DUE TO THE RECENT PASSAGE OF A COLD FRONT. THIS PATTERN CAN PRODUCE WHAT IS CALLED COLD AIR FUNNEL CLOUDS. THESE FUNNELS DO NOT USUALLY TOUCH THE GROUND. HOWEVER...IF THEY DO TOUCH THE GROUND THEY ARE DANGEROUS AND CAN BE DAMAGING.

THE THREAT OF FUNNEL CLOUDS WILL CONTINUE FOR UNTIL AROUND 5 PM...BUT IS EXPECTED TO DRAMATICALLY DECREASE AFTER 5 PM AS INSTABILITY DIMINISHES.