NWS: Kimball cloud formation likely scud cloud

By RICHARD JENKINS

[email protected]

KIMBALL, Wis. - It appears the possible tornado that was reported to have touched down in Kimball shortly before noon wasn't actually a tornado.

According to the National Weather Service in Duluth, the cloud formation is actually what is known as a scud cloud.

"We also saw the same photo, and at least from what we had seen ... it looks like it's just what we call a scud cloud," said Bill Leatham, with the NWS-Duluth.

"Scud clouds are small, ragged, low cloud fragments that are unattached to a larger cloud base," information on a National Weather Service storm spotter page reads. "These clouds are often seen behind thunderstorm gust fronts. These clouds are generally associated with cool moist air, such as thunderstorm outflow."

"That's pretty much what we're, at the office here, what we are thinking it is. Unless we get a video from folks where they have a funnel, or something like that touching the ground ... at least at this point, we don't have a tornado confirmed at that (location)," Leatham said.

He said the Weather Service usually looks for cloud rotation when determining whether a cloud is a tornado, which is difficult to do with a photo.

He said the photo they received was the only call or report of the incident.

Jeanne E. Faulkner and Leland Sarmont sent the Daily Globe some of the photos they took when they saw the cloud formation while returning to their Center Drive house in Kimball shortly before noon.

"We just came to the crest of the hill on Center Drive and were just looking down the drive to the end of Center Drive and there it was, and, 'Oh my God,'" Faulkner said.

The cloud appeared to touch down on the west side of Kimball, in the direction of Valley Road, Sarmont said. Faulkner noted at one point a second cloud appeared to attempt to form.

The timing of them being present to see the cloud was made even more coincidental, given that Friday was Faulkner's birthday.

"We just lucked out," Faulkner said, regarding happening to be in right place at the right time to see the cloud. "It was just one of those incidental things, my little birthday gift from nature."

The couple said they didn't notice if there was any damage as it was too far away in the woods and it was too dark to tell.

An Iron County Sheriff's Department dispatcher said the department hadn't received any reports of tornado damage as of Friday afternoon, and had actually not received many reports of storm damage from the wider storm, either.

The storm produced about an inch of rain in parts of the Gogebic Range in a short period on the first official day of autumn.