By John F. Bonfatti - News Staff Reporter Updated: 09/28/07 4:10 PM At least one funnel cloud was spotted over downtown Buffalo this morning as a swift-moving front rolled across the region.
The tightly-coiled funnel appeared near Buffalo harbor, then moved in and appeared to dissipate as it headed toward City Hall, said attorney Mark J. Mahoney, who said he witnessed the cloud from his office on the 15th floor of the Statler Building.
"It was much more organized when it was over the lake," he said. "It looked like it moved over City Hall."
Mahoney said the funnel cloud did not come close to touching either the water or the land.
"It looked like it was several hundred feet above the ground, certainly higher up than the top of City Hall," he said.
Technically, funnel clouds that touch bodies of water are water spouts, while those that touch land are tornadoes.
National Weather Service meteorologist Tony Ansuini said conditions were favorable toward the formation of funnel clouds this morning.
"The air mass coming across the area had some pretty cold air aloft," he said. "And as it was coming across the still relatively warm waters of the lake, it certainly could" develop funnel clouds.
There were no immediate reports that the funnel touched down.
"It was much more organized when it was over the lake," he said. "It looked like it moved over City Hall."
Mahoney said the funnel cloud did not come close to touching either the water or the land.
"It looked like it was several hundred feet above the ground, certainly higher up than the top of City Hall," he said.
Technically, funnel clouds that touch bodies of water are water spouts, while those that touch land are tornadoes.
National Weather Service meteorologist Tony Ansuini said conditions were favorable toward the formation of funnel clouds this morning.
"The air mass coming across the area had some pretty cold air aloft," he said. "And as it was coming across the still relatively warm waters of the lake, it certainly could" develop funnel clouds.
There were no immediate reports that the funnel touched down.
1 comment:
wow...that's cool...
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