Rotating cloud spotted over Crocker Park

WESTLAKE, Ohio (WJW) — A FOX 8 viewer recorded a rotating cloud in the skies above Crocker Park in Westlake.

From his office window, Kevin Lesjak had a good view as powerful storms ripped through Northeast Ohio, splintering trees and knocking out power on Tuesday, Aug. 6.

LIVE BLOG: Downed trees, power lines cause damage across Cuyahoga County and more

The National Weather Service first issued a tornado warning for Cuyahoga and Lorain counties on Tuesday afternoon. Similar warnings popped up for other counties in the following hours.

FOX 8 meteorologist Dontaé Jones said the cloud’s rotation can be seen in the video, and noted this particular storm did come with a tornado warning.

But to determine if a tornado is actually spinning up, meteorologists from FOX 8 and the National Weather Service would look at the direction of winds that are traveling in opposite directions, and how close those opposing winds are to each other.

“We would watch this for a few minutes to see if the rotation is more broad or if it tightens,” Jones said.

“If it tightens, then that is indicative of a funnel or tornado forming and (meteorologists) would issue a tornado warning for that storm. If it is broad, then that is less likely a tornado and we would just keep an eye on it without issuing a tornado warning.”

1 tornado confirmed in NE Ohio after Tuesday storms

The National Weather Service on Wednesday afternoon confirmed one tornado in Bedford and Valley View on Tuesday.

As of Wednesday afternoon, more than 335,000 FirstEnergy customers in Northeast Ohio were still without power following Tuesday’s storms.

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