Possible funnel cloud spotted near Hermiston
By Griffin Beach on Saturday, May 17th, 2025 in Columbia Basin News Columbia Basin Top Stories
HERMISTON – A Saturday afternoon storm made for a lot of great photo opportunities as what appeared to be a funnel cloud appeared in the skies near Hermiston.
Matt Callihan with the National Weather Service (NWS) in Pendleton said they received photos and calls about the cloud as well. He said observers described the funnel as small and brief and staying far away from the ground. He said based on the observations he believed that this occurred west of Hermiston.
Callihan says the NWS can’t confirm whether it was a funnel cloud or not because no rotation was indicated on their radar, but said that may have been due to how small and brief it was.
The NWS did issue a special weather statement at 3:48 p.m. for hail, winds and lightning, but Callihan said the storm did not meet the criteria for a severe thunderstorm alert, nor did anything they saw on their end indicate the need for a tornado warning.
Photo courtesy of Michael Smith. To view more photos that were sent it check out the My Columbia Basin Facebook page.
