Spotters in northwest Iowa reported funnel clouds on Sunday evening as scattered showers tracked across the region. While these funnels are typically weak and short-lived, residents in southeastern South Dakota, northwest Iowa, and southwest Minnesota are being urged to stay alert until nightfall.
According to the National Weather Service in Sioux Falls and Des Moines, atmospheric conditions remain favorable for brief funnel cloud development through 8 p.m. Sunday. These funnels usually extend only a few hundred feet from the cloud base and rarely touch down, but residents are advised to seek shelter indoors if they feel threatened.
Reports of funnel clouds have already been received in Lyon, Osceola, and Dickinson counties in Iowa. Additional funnel cloud activity could occur across Plymouth, Woodbury, and Cherokee counties, including Sioux City and Storm Lake. The watch area also includes communities such as Huron, Mitchell, and Sioux Falls in South Dakota, as well as Worthington, Minnesota.
While no significant damage is expected, forecasters recommend that residents take precautions and seek shelter if a funnel cloud appears overhead. The National Weather Service is encouraging residents to report any sightings, and they warn that a tornado advisory could be issued if conditions worsen.
