Waianae funnel cloud
‘too slow to be dangerous’A police officer says it didn't come close to homes
By Star-Bulletin StaffWINDS over the Waianae range yesterday created a slowly swirling, funnel-shaped cloud that lingered long enough to be seen by hundreds of Leeward residents. "It extended about 300 feet above ground, moving very slow. It never touched down; it looked too slow to be dangerous," said police Sgt. James Causey, who watched from near the top of Makakilo after the cloud formed just before 6 p.m.
The white funnel appeared over Makakilo near Palehua Ridge, extending down from a darker cloud bank, he said.
"It was not near any homes. You could actually see the thing turning, the outside spinning slowly." Causey said it remained visible for more than 10 minutes.
Several people called the police and radio stations to describe their view of the cloud.
"It's not that unusual around here," said Bob Larson, lead forecaster with the National Weather Service.
"We usually get it on a fair weather day when not much is happening. And with a shallow cloud covering, it's visible to a lot of people."
Larson said the convergence of weak tradewinds and a sea breeze from the Leeward Coast, plus the mountainous terrain, provide the air currents that create the swirling cloud.
"It's not necessarily violent. There's a whole range possible, from a dust devil to a tornado," Larson said. "It's only a threat if it extends to the ground, and even then, it would be minor damage, depending on the strength of the wind."
