Funnel clouds seen near Crystal Cove

Anywhere from four to six funnel clouds formed about 1 1/2 miles off Crystal Cove State Park on Saturday morning, a meteorologist from the National Weather Service said.

Several witnesses reported spotting the funnel clouds from the beach around 10 a.m. on Saturday, said meteorologist Tina Spall, who works for the National Weather Service.

A Newport Beach police helicopter that was in the area confirmed the sightings, she said.

The unusual rotating cloud formations are created by unstable air, Spall said.

“It was a little unusual today because the air wasn’t that unstable,” Spall said. “The storms they were coming from were just good enough to get something going.”

A witness also reported spotting a funnel cloud off Laguna Beach around 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, Spall said.

The National Weather Service predicted that rain and scattered thunderstorms in the area would create a high potential for funnel clouds into Saturday evening.

— Brianna Bailey