Surprise storm brings reports of funnel cloud

Alan Radcliffe first heard about the storm on a weather radio.

Radcliffe, Franklin County emergency management director, said a report from the National Weather Service Saturday evening warned him of an approaching threat to Franklin County.

“We had no idea that the severe weather was approaching until it was on the radio,” he said.

The weather service indicated that a Coffey County law enforcement officer had spotted a funnel cloud in his area. When that storm entered Franklin County, storm spotters and chasers identified a funnel cloud just south of Williamsburg, Radcliffe said.

“It came within a mile of Princeton,” Radcliffe said.

According to the National Weather Service Web site, a tornado touched down at 7:10 p.m. Saturday in an open field near Princeton. The tornado, which touched down at the intersection of Ellis and Eisenhower roads, lasted for two minutes and spanned 25 yards in width.

Radcliffe said the outdoor warning sirens in Williamsburg, Richmond and Princeton were sounded, providing residents about 15 to 20 minutes to reach safety. No injuries or damages were reported, Radcliffe said.

Radcliffe said he would encourage everyone to purchase an all hazards weather radio for situations like this one, when residents are unaware of an approaching storm.

“That’s how we first knew about it,” he said.

The weather this week is expected to be hot and humid. Temperatures throughout the week are expected to be in the mid to upper 90s with heat index readings around 105. The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory for Franklin County for this afternoon, lasting until Tuesday night.