The National Weather Service issued a brief tornado warning in Molalla, Oregon, for part of Clackamas County on Saturday afternoon after a funnel cloud was reported near Molalla. People in the warned area were told to move to a basement or interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building and stay away from windows.
The warning text said, "Expect damage to mobile homes, roofs, and vehicles," and added, "TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter and protect yourself from flying debris."
Bobby Corser on the warning
Bobby Corser, a Storm Tracker 2 Digital Meteorologist, said the spotter report was the reason NWS Portland issued the warning. He said radar detected rotation, but the ground truth from the spotter report is what pushed the alert into place.
NWS Portland said the storm spotter saw multiple funnel clouds. That report came during a period when thunderstorms and hail were possible in Western Oregon and Southwest Washington, and Corser said strong showers and thunderstorms would continue for the rest of the afternoon.
Clackamas County weather timing
Shortly before the funnel cloud was spotted, a golfer was struck by lightning in Clackamas County. The two incidents were separate weather dangers, but they sat in the same active afternoon pattern, with the warning aimed at people who were outdoors, in a mobile home, or in a vehicle.
For people in part of Clackamas County, the practical step was immediate shelter, not waiting for the sky to clear. The warning’s shortest path was the safest one: get inside solid cover fast, then stay there until the storm threat passed the area.
