Funnel Cloud
On the way back from a family reunion in Wisconsin, I spotted this funnel cloud on Highway 64 just a few miles shy of Stillwater. Pulled over and started taking pictures. Just fascinating to watch its evolution, in total silence. The main cloud above extended far to the left, with this ‘scorpion’s tail’ dragging behind it. Typical arrangement for tornadoes. Eventually the funnel harmlessly dissolved back into the mother cloud.
Coming back into the Twin Cities, all hell broke loose as there were several tornadoes in the area. Got caught in an incredible pull to the side of the road downpour. Truck sure was nice and clean afterward. Night time photos with lightning of the cell that produced the tornadoes I took once I got back into town will be up next week.
For other skywatch photos go here 
August 13th, 2009 at 5:24 am
cool shot!
August 13th, 2009 at 6:17 am
Wow, perfect timing to track this storm.
August 13th, 2009 at 8:27 am
Beautiful.
August 13th, 2009 at 9:07 am
If I wasn’t busy trying to contact my teenager at his work about not walking home in this storm that was over our head, I would’ve loved to have got some shots of it !! It touched down near my city about 5 miles away, but never amounted to much after that, but the clouds were spectacular right underneath it. There was even blue sky up the center at one point surrounded by wild greenish clouds.
Nice catch, you crazy photographer. Any chance you got some of the last couple days of those shooting stars (forgot what it was called. Starts with a “P”)?
August 13th, 2009 at 12:07 pm
WOW! Dramatic picture!
August 13th, 2009 at 12:25 pm
Nice find! I’ve been curious about this batch of photos, looking forward to the others from this storm.
August 13th, 2009 at 12:56 pm
That one looked frightening – glad you escaped!
August 13th, 2009 at 2:06 pm
Great shot, sounds like quite an adventurous drive.
August 13th, 2009 at 2:08 pm
Amazing shot. That is quite scary though.
August 13th, 2009 at 2:40 pm
That’s both freaky ans scary. Like something out of the Wizard of Oz.
August 13th, 2009 at 3:52 pm
Gorgeous shot!
Just love the mood in this – glad you escaped though!
Have a great friday :)
August 13th, 2009 at 9:03 pm
Jd, yes an interesting storm. As I said got some shots of it after dark after it was west of us, towering clouds with lots of lightning, yet there was a clear sky overhead with stars! Unfortunately didn’t get out to look at the Perseid Meteor shower this year. It’ll be back next year.
August 13th, 2009 at 10:27 pm
That’s just plain scary! I’ve driven that route many times, but haven’t seen anything like this; thank goodness. But I remember hiding our in Lois Anne’s mom’s cellar several nights in St. Louis Park when tornadoes were in the area.
Super photo! I’ll look forward to the other one coming up!
August 14th, 2009 at 2:09 am
Ominous. Like in a Hollywood scary movie :-). A nice picture.
August 14th, 2009 at 4:18 am
Wow, nice dramatic sky here, well done!!
Have a nice SWF
August 14th, 2009 at 7:22 am
What a wonderful experience for you, great shot too.
August 14th, 2009 at 2:41 pm
Magnifique nuages en noir et blanc
August 23rd, 2009 at 9:11 pm
That is really wild. Cool.