funnel cloud
Tornado's precursor form
A funnel cloud is a rotating column of air extending downward from a storm cloud but not touching the ground.
If it reaches the surface, it becomes a tornado.
Funnel clouds appear as cone-shaped or tubular protrusions beneath thunderstorms: We watched a funnel cloud form but it dissipated before touching down.
Rotating destructive windstorm
- tornadoViolent rotating windstorm
- touchdownSix-point gridiron play
- waterspoutMarine vortex phenomenon
- landspoutNon-supercell weak tornado
whirlwind · cyclone · debris · destruction · path · damage · outbreak · warning
Rotating severe thunderstorm
- mesocycloneRotating updraft in supercells
- cumulonimbusTowering storm-producing cloud
- thunderstormViolent weather with lightning
- updraftUpward air movement
rotation · condensation · rotating · lowering · descending · pendant · skyward · atmospheric
Rotating, curving movement
- spiralCurve winding around center
- rotationTurning on an axis
- whirlRotate very quickly
- spinningRevolving around an axis
coil · helix · circulation · gyre · coriolis · turbulence · centrifugal · angular momentum
Alert about danger
- evacuationRemoval from danger
- sirenWailing alert device
- shelterProtected place or structure
- emergencySerious sudden danger
disaster · hazard · destruction · catastrophe · survival · precaution · alert · basement
twister
Rotating destructive windstorm
- tornadoViolent rotating windstorm
- touchdownSix-point gridiron play
- waterspoutMarine vortex phenomenon
landspout · whirlwind · cyclone · debris · destruction · path · damage · outbreak · warning · watch
supercell
Rotating severe thunderstorm
- mesocycloneRotating updraft in supercells
- cumulonimbusTowering storm-producing cloud
- thunderstormViolent weather with lightning
updraft · rotation · condensation · rotating · lowering · descending · pendant · skyward · atmospheric · convection
swirl
Rotating, curving movement
spinning · coil · helix · circulation · gyre · coriolis · turbulence · centrifugal · angular momentum · air column
warning
Alert about danger
- evacuationRemoval from danger
- sirenWailing alert device
- shelterProtected place or structure
emergency · disaster · hazard · destruction · catastrophe · survival · precaution · alert · basement · safe room
ominous
Suggesting something bad approaches
- menacingConveying threat or danger
- loomingAppearing threateningly close
- descendingMoving downward
dark · sinister · foreboding · dramatic · eerie · churning · roiling · gray · wispy · rope
- weatherweather, rain, sun, snow, wind
- Tornadoestornado, twister, vortex, supercell, cyclone
- Cloudscumulus, stratus, cirrus, nimbostratus, stratocumulus
- natural disastersearthquake, tornado, hurricane, tsunami, volcanic eruption
- severe weatherblizzard, hurricane, cyclone, hailstorm, ice storm
- stormsstorm, thunderstorm, hurricane, tornado, typhoon
funnel cloudclear sky
Atmosphere without clouds
blue sky · fair weather · still air · anticyclone · doldrums