Chicago-area Weather: Funnel Clouds Possible This Afternoon

CHICAGO, IL — The National Weather Service in Chicago has issued a special weather statement calling for the possibility of funnel clouds Tuesday afternoon. According to the weather statement, conditions are favorable for the development of isolated funnel clouds associated with widely scattered thunderstorms.

This special weather statement applies to several counties including the cities of Dixon, DeKalb, Aurora, Elgin, Wheaton, Chicago, Ottawa, Oswego, Morris, Joliet, Kankakee, Pontiac, Watseka, Paxton, Gary, Valparaiso, Morocco, Rensselaer and Fowler.

Atmospheric conditions favorable for possible isolated funnel clouds associated with thunderstorms. (9:00 PM GMT = 4 PM CDT). #ilwx #inwx https://t.co/uvHC40GSCo
— NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) August 1, 2017

According to the NWS, these funnel clouds normally only protrude a few hundred feet downward from the parent cloud, rotate or spin like a top, and last a few minutes before dissipating. These funnel clouds rarely touch the ground and typically do not pose any hazard. The conditions these funnel clouds develop in do not support strong or damaging tornadoes.

However, on extremely rare occasions, according to the NWS, these funnels can briefly touch the ground and produce very minimal, if any, damage.

Widely scattered thunderstorms and isolated funnel clouds this afternoon. Heavy rain and gusty winds the main hazards #inwx #ilwx pic.twitter.com/JwTGUVYeym
— NWS Chicago (@NWSChicago) August 1, 2017