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       As storms began to erupt along the Interstate 95 corridor Tuesday afternoon, eyewitnesses spotted a funnel cloud looming ominously over the U.S. Capitol building in D.C.

       A funnel cloud is a rotating column of air that extends from the base of a cloud and contains condensed water. Unlike a tornado, funnel clouds are not in touch with the ground and are, thus, harmless at ground level.

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       The Capitol appeared to be a magnet for magnificent weather phenomena Tuesday. Not long after the funnel cloud was spotted, Ken Graham, the director of the National Weather Service, captured this dramatic view of lightning striking nearby:

       On my way to a meeting and captured this just now.. @capitalweather @foxweather @weatherchannel pic.twitter.com/tFvoQnp71C

       — Ken Graham (@wx4keg) July 25, 2023

       The funnel cloud was also seen over Washington’s eastern suburbs as the complex of storms pulled away.

       “After viewing pictures and movies of the funnel cloud and radar imagery, the funnel was associated with a growing updraft cloud tower,” said Jeff Halverson, Capital Weather Gang’s severe weather expert. “Nearby rain suggests there was likely a cool air boundary along which a small area of sheared flow [changing wind direction with altitude] and thus spin developed … the updraft stretched and tightened the rotation sufficiently for a funnel to condense. This is very similar to how water spouts develop.”

       NEW: Here's video of this afternoon's funnel cloud showing its arrival & departure sped up 5X. In real-time this lasted 5 mins. 40 secs. @capitalweather @amelia_draper @HillaryHowardDC @SteveRudin7News @StormHour #weather #stormhour pic.twitter.com/x70cvFpXwU

       — Dave Statter (@STATter911) July 25, 2023

       The funnel cloud developed around the same time that severe thunderstorm and flood watches were issued for the Washington metro area and its eastern suburbs. Intense storms, capable of producing localized damaging winds and flooding, were possible in the region into the evening.

       Updates: Severe thunderstorm watch through evening for D.C. area and northeast

       Here are some more views of the funnel cloud that were posted to social media:

       Funnel cloud over Anacostia Park… nothing like walking your dog and the skies open up on you. @capitalweather pic.twitter.com/u5qEMuupcu

       — Chris Atkin (@catkin76) July 25, 2023

       Here's the view of the funnel from Arlington looking east over @Reagan_Airport at 12:25 pm. @HillaryHowardDC shot these. @capitalweather @dougkammerer @StormHour @amelia_draper @SteveRudin7News #stormhour pic.twitter.com/kVmDXm5ah8

       — Dave Statter (@STATter911) July 25, 2023

       @MatthewCappucci my friend Julian took this in DC as a storm went through a few min ago. Can you confirm if this noodle is a funnel. It was in the Capital Hill area. pic.twitter.com/fhaBdFmLWP

       — Max Margolis (@maximummagic) July 25, 2023

       @dougkammerer Current view over Oxon Hill. Is that a formation in the cloud? pic.twitter.com/CNUKcRL7DE

       — Annissa Grimes (@Annissa_Grimes) July 25, 2023

       Just spotted what appears to be a funnel cloud south of DC. If it was a tornado, that would be very unusual pic.twitter.com/NAzDueEdp2

       — Matt Schroeder (@MSchroeder77) July 25, 2023

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