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Storm Rolls Into Puget Sound Area; Funnel Clouds Spotted

Posted: 3:44 pm PDT August 25, 2008Updated: 6:14 pm PDT August 25, 2008

SEATTLE -- Late afternoon thunderstorms and lightning strikes broke out along the Kitsap Peninsula west of Seattle and moved into the Seattle metro area, KIRO 7 Chief Meteorologist Rebecca Stevenson said.

The system, along with rain showers, developed in the Puget Sound convergence zone Monday afternoon and spread east through Seattle.

Thunder shook downtown Seattle during the early evening commute, while in SeaTac, gusty winds and heavy rains swept through the area and slowed traffic on Interstate 5.

Stevenson said funnel clouds could form during the storm along with small hail and warned people to stay indoors during the lightning strikes.

KIRO 7 storm chaser Billy Griffin said he saw a funnel cloud directly over the city of Renton at Interstate 405 and state Route 167 shortly after 5 p.m., then reported seeing a funnel cloud actually touch down for three to four minutes northeast of Black Diamond, which would classify it as a tornado, Griffin said.

Griffin said that ultimately, his video footage of the event would have to be reviewed by the National Weather Service to determine if it was indeed an actual tornado.

The last large tornado in the state hit Vancouver in January where a rowing club was destroyed and cut a swath four miles long.

Monday's storm also cut power to 900 people in Bremerton as heavy rain hit the area late Monday afternoon.

The activity is expected to decrease as the convergence zone moves into the Cascades overnight.

Earlier in the day, several people spotted a funnel cloud over Lake Washington , a sighting that National Weather Service forecasters acknowledged after seeing video shot by a KIRO 7 Eyewitness News viewer. The Weather Service said the video, shot by an Eastside resident, indicated it was a funnel cloud rather than the "fragmented clouds" forecasters first thought.

Stevenson told National Weather Service officials about the video.

"We were able to provide them a better look (at the funnel cloud)," she said, which they were otherwise unable to confirm.

The cloud spun in the sky over the lake at about 8:40 a.m.

Copyright 2009 by KIROTV.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Rebecca Stevenson
Rebecca Stevenson is Chief Meteorologist for KIRO 7 Eyewitness News. Stevenson holds the Seal of Approval from the American Meteorological Society (AMS) and the National Weather Association.
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Weather To Expect:
The streak of dry and very warm weather continues through the holiday weekend but the mountains will become stormy later Sunday.
Saturday will have low temperatures in the 50s and under sunny skies the highs will rapidly warm. High temperatures will be in the 80s with some low 90s in the southwest interior and Cascade foothills.
Sunday will have low temperatures in the upper 50s to low 60s and while slight cooling (along with morning low clouds) will occur on the coast the inland areas will soar with highs in the 80s to near 90. Sunday afternoon and evening the wind will increase as a marine push surges inland. It is the beginning of a change in the weather pattern.

A large upper trough will push over western Washington late Sunday night into Monday morning. The result will be a 15 degree drop in high temperatures, more clouds in the mornings and a chance of a few showers. The showers Monday will be short lived. Tuesday will be mainly dry but a better chance of showers develops Wednesday.

3 - Day Forecast
Sat
Clear
87
Sun
Mostly Clear
87
Mon
Chance of Rain
70
Seattle Metropolitan Area
Want coastal Doppler? Let the government know! Send a letter to Senator Cantwell expressing your support and requesting funding.


Weather To Expect:
The streak of dry and very warm weather continues through the holiday weekend but the mountains will become stormy later Sunday.
Saturday will have low temperatures in the 50s and under sunny skies the highs will rapidly warm. High temperatures will be in the 80s with some low 90s in the southwest interior and Cascade foothills.
Sunday will have low temperatures in the upper 50s to low 60s and while slight cooling (along with morning low clouds) will occur on the coast the inland areas will soar with highs in the 80s to near 90. Sunday afternoon and evening the wind will increase as a marine push surges inland. It is the beginning of a change in the weather pattern.

A large upper trough will push over western Washington late Sunday night into Monday morning. The result will be a 15 degree drop in high temperatures, more clouds in the mornings and a chance of a few showers. The showers Monday will be short lived. Tuesday will be mainly dry but a better chance of showers develops Wednesday.