Funnel Fail?

[James Gustina]

Hey guys, this is a general question for identification. Recently a guy has been toting a video of what he thinks is an obvious "funnel". Me and a lot of other people disagree but we need a third opinion on this one. I don't think this is a funnel for two reasons:
1.) Lack of a rising, rotating motion whatsoever.
2.)Looks like outflow scud to the right of the funnel.

But we need opinions on this. So go ahead and shoot.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hpet9zGxqm8&feature=player_embedded

 

[Robert Dewey]

Looks like scud to me. The only motion I can see is the camera, and it's shaking worse than Michael J Fox in a bathtub full of ice (no offense to MJF of course, he's one of my favorite actors).

 

[Jennifer Palmer]

James.. I completely agree with you. This looks like scud to me. I can't see any rotation at all.

 

[Tim Shriver]

SLC - Scary Looking Cloud. No rotation that I can see within the SLC or above it but the shaking sort of causes issues.

Suspect a gust front with small shelf cloud. Seeing some sign of curling
higher up. See it in the right corner around midway through the video.

Tim

 

[Jeff Miller]

Definately agree with Tim, Jennifer, and Robert. This is nothing more than scud being pulled up into the cloud - a local updraft feature. There is nothing here even close to a funnel or a tornado. Chalk this up to another "Scary Looking Cloud" sighting.

James, make sure your friend understands that just because something forms lower then the overall cloud base or looks like a funnel it isn't necessarily a funnel. It absolutely HAS to be rotating for it to be a funnel. And in all seriousness, teach him how to shoot video - the shaking was horrendous. Just some constructive feedback.

 

[Rick Schmidt]

I would not even classify that as an SLC. Is there even a storm associated with it? I have a collection of tornado/funnel lookalikes, and they all put that video to shame. I guess everyone with a video camera thinks they are a storm chaser.

 

[James Gustina]

Well I wouldn't have posted this on here if he wasn't blasting other people for disagreeing with him. He says there's another chaser that saw the same thing to back up his claim(and i danced on the moon). But I definitely think he needs a spotter class refresher. Thanks for your replies guys.

 

[J Brooks]

Well darn, I was too late to see it. "Video has been removed by the user."

 

[Shane Adams]

Well darn, I was too late to see it. "Video has been removed by the user."

I think that says it all.

 

[J Brooks]

Ha, yeah that's true.