11. The Funnel Cloud Sighting
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One of the most direct and worrisome visual cues that a tornado might be approaching is the sighting of a funnel cloud. Basically a revolving column of air extending from the base of a thunderstorm but not yet touching earth is a funnel cloud. Should it actually come into touch with the ground, it formally becomes a tornado. Usually described as appearing like an upside-down ice cream cone, funnel clouds first show up as a cone-shaped projection from the base of the storm. Their looks vary; sometimes they seem slender and rope-like, and other times they could be vast and intimidating. Depending on the lighting circumstances and the degree of moisture and trash a funnel cloud carries, its colour could range from dark grey to almost black. Though every funnel cloud should be considered as a potential tornado, not all funnel clouds become tornadoes. Sometimes in a matter of seconds, the change from funnel cloud to tornado can occur rather swiftly.Sometimes a tornado can also strike ground even if the funnel cloud doesn't seem to reach all the way down since the lower section might be hidden by trash, dust, or rain. See a funnel cloud and you have to act right away. Try to see it closer; wait to see whether it touches down. Get cover right away from the most sturdy building, ideally in a basement or lower floor inner chamber. Should you be in a vehicle, avoid trying to outrun the funnel cloud or possible tornado. If at all possible, or as a last resort, lie down in a nearby low-lying area or ditch; else, abandon the car for strong cover. Recall that your first concern is your safety; every second matters when a funnel cloud is seen.
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