Remember we told you about the apparent tornado that was spotted north east of Ottawa during the storm yesterday evening? Franklin County Emergency Management Director, Thomas Winter, showed the picture to the National Weather Service and they said it was not a tornado, not a cold air funnel, but steam. Steam? Based on Google Earth calculations, they were able to place the funnel in question directly over the Martin Marietta Hot Mix Plant on Sand Creek Road. The National Weather Service says it is not attached to the clouds above it and while it looks impressive, it is just steam being pulled up from the plant by the cold air that is passing overhead at the time. The National Weather Service says that cold air funnels form underneath showers and weak thunderstorms when the air above is especially cold. They are usually harmless, but can touch down and cause winds up to 85 miles per hour.
Winter says he drove out to the plant this morning and sure enough, a large amount of steam was being produced, not funneling upward like last night, but, still quite a bit of steam.
