Funnel cloud seen over East Mountains

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE - A funnel cloud appeared over the eastern flank of the Sandia Mountains Sunday as a storm cell suddenly gained strength and then dissipated with no immediate reports of damage.

The National Weather Service issued a special weather statement warning of wind gusts up to 50 mph, hail 1/2-inch in diameter and possible small tornadoes in association with the storm.

As of 12:45 p.m. the storm was near Sandia Park and Cedar Crest and moving easterly at 10 mph.

Areas under the gun included Golden and Interstate 40 between Tijeras and Edgewood.

The cells began losing strength around 1:15 p.m.

The weather service warned funnel clouds, which by definition become tornadoes when the touch the ground, can cause localized damage to lightweight structures like outbuildings, patio covers and carports.

In addition to the funnel cloud, a lighting strike on Sandia Crest briefly knocked out the KRQE-TV over-the-air broadcast signal and at least one other station's signal early Sunday afternoon.

Meanwhile numerous warnings and alerts were being issued for storms in central, northeastern and southwestern counties.

A flash flood warning was in effect until 4:45 p.m. for southwestern Los Alamos County and east-central Sandoval County for storm dropping heavy rain located about 15 miles northwest of Cochiti Lake at 2 p.m..  The storm was moving south-southwest at about 10 mph with rain gauges in the area showing rainfall totals of 1/2-3/4 of an inch in 20 minutes.

The weather service reported the heaviest rains falling on the headwaters of Frijoles Canyon, which runs through Bandelier National Monument to the Rio Grande.

A similar warning was in effect for a storm 12 miles west of Las Vegas near El Porvenir.  Flooding was expected along Gallina Creek and especially Tecolote Creek.

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