Key Takeaways
- A brief Tornado Warning was issued for part of Clackamas County, Oregon, on Saturday afternoon after a funnel cloud was reported near Molalla.
- The National Weather Service (NWS) Portland warned of possible damage to mobile homes, roofs, and vehicles and urged residents to take immediate shelter.
- The warning was prompted by a combination of radar‑detected rotation and a spotter’s visual confirmation of multiple funnel clouds.
- Earlier in the day, a golfer was struck by lightning on a course near West Linn, highlighting the broader severe‑weather threat.
- Thunderstorms, hail, and strong showers persisted through the afternoon, with another funnel‑cloud sighting recorded later between Brush Prairie and Battle Ground.
- The warning was cancelled around 4 p.m., but forecasters emphasized that the storm activity was expected to continue for the remainder of the day.
On Saturday afternoon, the National Weather Service’s Portland office issued a short‑lived Tornado Warning for a portion of Clackamas County, Oregon, after receiving reports of a funnel cloud near the community of Molalla. The alert was posted shortly before 4 p.m. and was based on both radar indications of rotation and a ground‑truth observation from a trained storm spotter, who said they observed multiple funnel clouds developing from the storm cell. NWS Meteorologist Bobby Corser explained that the spotter’s report was the decisive factor in issuing the warning, noting that while radar showed rotation, the spotter’s visual confirmation provided the “ground truth” needed to justify the alert.
The warning carried strong language urging residents to seek shelter immediately. The NWS advisory warned that the storm could produce damage to mobile homes, roofs, and vehicles, and instructed anyone in the affected area to move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building, stay away from windows, and, if outdoors, in a mobile home, or in a vehicle, to find the nearest substantial shelter and protect themselves from flying debris. The phrase “TAKE COVER NOW!” was emphasized in the bulletin, reflecting the agency’s urgency given the potential for a tornado to touch down.
Earlier in the day, the same weather system had already produced a dangerous lightning strike. A golfer was hit by lightning on a course near West Linn, just before the funnel cloud was spotted near Molalla. That incident underscored the broader threat posed by the convective activity sweeping across Western Oregon and Southwest Washington, which also included the possibility of hail and strong thunderstorms. Corser noted that the region would continue to experience strong showers and thunderstorms for the rest of the afternoon, advising the public to remain vigilant even after the tornado warning was lifted.
Around 4:48 p.m., amateur videographer Mike Geromichalos captured footage of a funnel cloud forming between Brush Prairie and Battle Ground, Washington. The funnel cloud remained aloft for a brief period before lifting back into the parent cloud, and the video was later shared with local news outlets. Although this second funnel cloud did not result in a tornado touchdown, it served as additional evidence that the storm system retained the capacity for rotation and severe weather.
The Tornado Warning was officially cancelled by the NWS Portland office around 4 p.m., after the threat had diminished. However, forecasters cautioned that the atmospheric conditions favoring strong thunderstorms, hail, and gusty winds were expected to persist through the evening. Residents were encouraged to stay tuned to local weather updates, keep emergency kits ready, and heed any subsequent watches or warnings that might be issued. As the story continues to develop, further information—including any damage assessments, additional spotter reports, or updates on the golfer’s condition—will be provided by KATU and the National Weather Service.