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A funnel cloud was sighted near Bruns Avenue in Celina about 3 p.m. Wednesday. According to NWS, several funnels seen around the area were likely cold air funnels, which rarely touch down.
CELINA - Multiple reported sightings of cold-air funnel clouds led to warning sirens in parts of Mercer County Wednesday afternoon and ultimately prompted county officials to cancel the high school band show set for 7 p.m. at the Mercer County Fair.
Mercer County Emergency Management Agency director Chad Willrath said the agency received reports of several funnel clouds in the area, including sightings in Coldwater, Celina and St. Henry. EMA set off the warning sirens as a precaution.
The Auglaize County EMA also posted on social media that it received reports of funnel clouds in St. Marys.
The Facebook post described the clouds as "cold air funnel clouds," saying the National Weather Service indicated the clouds are non-tornadic, usually weak, don't touch down and don't typically cause damage like a normal thunderstorm.
"Cold air funnels form beneath showers or weak thunderstorms when the air aloft is especially cold," the NWS said. "The funnels are most common in the fall and spring when the sun is able to heat up the lower levels of the atmosphere, causing convection to bubble up and form showers, but temperatures around 15,000 to 20,000 feet above the ground are quite cold. Cold air funnels are usually harmless, but on rare occasions they can touch down and cause EF-0 level tornado damage."
However, rain and thunderstorms were continuing to form in Indiana.
"Due to these weather conditions, after consulting with EMA and the sheriff's office, the Mercer County Fair board has made the decision to cancel the High School Band Show due to this event being outdoors," the Mercer County Sheriff's Office said in news release just after 4 p.m. "The fair board holds the safety of fairgoers and all the high school bands as a priority."
Around 5:30 p.m., the fair board reported, "With heavy rain heading our way, we are going to release our gate workers, and no admission will be charged for the remainder of the evening."
Vendors and campers were allowed to leave without penalty, but the show carried on as the fair's beer garden and the auction for Bear Hollow Wood Carvers were moved to the Grand Event Center. A live band performed after the auction.
At approximately 5:27 p.m. Wednesday, the National Weather Service issued a tornado warning for Delaware County, Indiana. During the warning, the NWS reported that storm spotters observed a tornado west of Muncie near Yorktown. No structural damage was immediately reported.
At 4 p.m., the NWS issued a flood watch that included both Mercer and Auglaize counties and was to be in effect until this morning, noting that "flash flooding caused by excessive rainfall continues to be possible." It also issued a special weather statement about the cold air funnel clouds.
