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Video: Cold-air funnel spotted in the Valley

Cold-air funnel clouds are not uncommon with the current weather pattern in the state, the NWS said.

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PHOENIX — Residents across the Valley on Monday were surprised to see what looked like a funnel cloud hanging from the sky.

The National Weather Service confirmed it was a cold-air funnel cloud. The NWS said they received reports of the clouds near Tucson and in the Phoenix metro area.

The cold-air funnel clouds are not uncommon with the current weather pattern in the state, the NWS said. But the atmosphere doesn't have all the ingredients to produce a full tornado.

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The environment out there today has been favorable for cold air funnel clouds to develop, with very cold air aloft, low pressure circulation overhead, and some surface instability. A few more could pop up over the next few hours. We have received at least a couple reports. #azwx https://t.co/WUuE73Wv8x
— NWS Phoenix (@NWSPhoenix) April 1, 2024

Credit: Sheryl Parfitt

Cold air funnel cloud spotted in the Valley on Monday, April 1. Credit: Sheryl Parfitt

What's a cold-air funnel?

Cold-air funnels form beneath showers or weak thunderstorms when the air aloft is especially cold, the NSW says.

The funnels are most common in the fall and spring when the sun is able to heat up the lower levels of the atmosphere, causing convection to bubble up and form showers, but temperatures around 15,000 to 20,000 feet above the ground are quite cold. Cold air funnels are usually harmless, but on rare occasions, they can touch down and cause EF-0 level (winds up to 85 mph) tornado damage.

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North Phoenix looking north towards Cave Creek around noon. pic.twitter.com/ERKEDUA1Yv
— Kris Holm (@kholm) April 1, 2024

Anyone else see a funnel cloud at noon today in North Phoenix? @abc15 @FOX10Phoenix @KTAR923 pic.twitter.com/xTPAa3q3MV
— Aron F. Johnson (@AronLeeJohnson) April 1, 2024

@NWSPhoenix Cold air funnel spotted at carefree Highway and 7th street looking northeast. I am a storm spotter and the pic was taken at 12:05 pm #azwx pic.twitter.com/0BItLWWB17
— 🌵⛈️Blue Bolt⛈️🌵 (@BlueBolt_Wusky) April 1, 2024

Arizona Weather

Arizona has seen its fair share of severe weather. Here is a compilation of videos from various storms across the Grand Canyon state.

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