GALLOWAY, NJ (CNN) – A high school graduation in New Jersey was interrupted when what looked to be a funnel cloud started forming nearby.
Matthew Blanchard took this video at Absegami High School, where the class of 2012 was celebrating their achievement on the football field.
This was reported to the National Weather Service a little less than an hour after the commencement exercises were scheduled.
CNN Meteorologist Sean Morris explains this was a super cell thunderstorm, which has a rotating updraft that creates large hail and can produce funnel clouds or tornadoes.
He says this appeared to be a rotating wall cloud from the base of a super cell thunderstorm.
There were no reports of any tornadoes touching down.
Morris also says this is a perfect example of what NOT to do during a thunderstorm that is producing dangerous cloud-to-ground lightning in the area. Luckily, none of these graduates or spectators were hit by lightning.
