2nd tornado warning issued after funnel cloud nearly touches down in Central Valley

MERCED COUNTY, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – A funnel cloud nearly touched down in the Central Valley Monday afternoon sparking a multi-county tornado warning from the National Weather Service (NWS).

NWS issued the first tornado warning at 3:10 p.m. for portions of Merced, Mariposa and Tuolumne counties after receiving reports of a funnel cloud. The warning was active until 3:30 p.m. – however; just after the first warning expired, the weather service issued a second Tornado warning that will remain active until 5:45 p.m.

During the warning, NWS urged to public to “seek shelter immediately.”

Video captured by Jamie Bell in Winton shows the funnel cloud nearly touching down around 2:45 p.m. Meteorologist AJ Fox says the phenomenon is relatively rare for the area.