Tornado Warning frightens Monroe County residents

It was a close call in Bloomington on Friday evening as a severe storm produced hail and a funnel cloud.

Tornado sirens sounded in Monroe County as the funnel cloud materialized. Many residents snapped photos of the storm and threatening cloud as it took shape south of town.

The storm did not produce a tornado and there were no reports of damage, but for many, including amateur weather photographer Robert P. Baxter, the storm came on quickly and caused many to seek shelter.

"It was only eight minutes and it went from just wispy clouds, to a full, absolutely massive wall cloud, and at that time everybody was already running into the laundry room," Baxter said. "It was astonishing because I hid the camera a minute before I took shelter and right at that time I saw the wall cloud turning into a funnel."

While the Warning has expired, a Watch remains in effect for the much of the area.