"Thought" they saw a funnel cloud?

Question

How can the local news station show a picture that a viewer sent in and say the viewer "thought" they saw a funnel cloud? You be the judge...

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3157/2615518537_ee10bd9fae_o.jpg

Answer 1

It does not appear to be a funnel cloud.  I'm not 100 percent sure.  Here are my reasons why I don't think it was a funnel cloud:

1. Funnel clouds usually have sharper edges...especially if it was mature as the size of this feature would indicate that is was.

2. The edges should be more uniform which would indicate a spinning column of air.  This "cloud" does not appear to be spinning.  

3. One might say that this is not a classic funnel cloud, but a cold air funnel.  However, usually a cold air funnel would have a sharper edge too.

My best guess as to what this picture is showing either:

Smoke or steam rising from below and reaching into of the cloud.  

Or it may have been a scud cloud which is often confused for a funnel clouds.  

Here are some links to scud clouds that looks like a funnel cloud.  Note that many times, the main difference is that a scud cloud is uaually not rotating and the edges are not very sharp. Here are some links to web pages that shows at least one image of something that looks like a funnel cloud, but was not...

http://www.stormeyes.org/tornado/SkyPix/...

http://www.srh.noaa.gov/tbw/html/tbw/sky...

http://www.midwestsstrc.org/downloads/qu...

http://www.extremeinstability.com/stormi...

http://cjonline.com/stories/050799/sto_s...

http://www.stormeyes.org/tornado/SkyPix/...

http://www.stormeyes.org/tornado/SkyPix/...

http://www.weathernet5.com/stormspotter/...

Anyway, the picture shows something that does not appear to be rotating.  It would be nice if they took a video, then we can be sure.  That is just my opinion based on this one picture.  The bottom line is...If the feature is not rotating, it is likely not a funnel cloud.

Answer 2

Well, it kinda does look like one!