Miniature Funnel Clouds

While driving home from work one night this past week I noticed a layer of clouds low in the sky that looked like they were miniature funnel clouds.  It was a very unique sight, so I went home and picked up my camera.  I then went on search for a place where I could get a good view of the clouds, because from the ground they were hidden from view because of all of the trees in town.  Luckilly, we are not that far from a range of hills where I was able to get to a higher altitude.  By the time I made it to a good spot, the sun was going down.  The funnels were not as distinct as they had been when I first noticed them, but the color of the sunset against the clouds overlooking Mt. Diablo still made for a good shot. 

Comments

[trcay]

we might have a tornado to so dont be scared

[Tami]

Not sure if you're interested, and perhaps someone else has stated this, but those are not funnel clouds. This is a scattered layer of altocumulus clouds that have some virga underneath them. Virga is precipitation falling from a cloud that evaporates before reaching the ground. The midlevel atmospheric winds give the virga its wispy appearance. They are not rotating.
A funnel cloud is a rotating column projecting out of the bottom of a thunderstorm and is affiliated with an extremely violent storm. Funnels are not associated with scattered layers of fair-weather clouds.
I wasn't sure if you were using "funnel clouds" literally or figuratively.

[Deborah Weber]

What an amazing and beautiful photograph!