Posted on: Saturday, September 4, 2004

Big funnels sighted over O'ahu

By James Gonser
Advertiser Staff Writer

Funnel clouds were reported over Hale'iwa and Kunia yesterday afternoon as warm air generated large cumulus clouds above the Wai'anae range, causing heavy showers along the Wai'anae Coast.

Robert Ballard of the National Weather Service said a funnel cloud is a rotating cloud that descends from the base of thunderstorm clouds but does not touch the ground. If it touches the ground it would be considered a tornado.

Funnel clouds can be thousands of feet tall but are not usually a danger in Hawai'i and typically last just a few minutes.

Todd White, of Hale'iwa Off Road Towing, was driving along the H-2 Freeway with his children when he saw a funnel cloud hundreds of feet tall about 3:30 yesterday afternoon.

"I was coming from 'Ewa Beach, and I could see it," White said. "I told my kids to look."

Ballard said as the temperature cools after sunset the rainy conditions over West O'ahu were expected to fall apart quickly.

Reach James Gonser at jgonser@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2431.