Editor's Note: The video above explains the science behind funnel clouds and tornadoes.
A Douglas County resident spotted what appears to be a funnel cloud early Thursday afternoon.
“Not sure if it touched down. Maybe for a moment,” Billy Cleverly said in an email to KING 5.
The snapshot, taken in Waterville, Washington, showed the cloud extending from dark skies.
Cleverly said the photo was taken just before 12 p.m.
"Basically, it looks like what we call a "spin-up" tornado," said KING 5 Meteorologist Ben Dery. "They are non-supercell tornadoes that tend to be weak (EF-0 or EF-1 scale), and fall apart quickly. Because the closest radar is over 100 miles away it's tough to get a really good look at it."
RELATED: Western Washington Forecast
Dery said because there isn't video of the cloud, it's hard to confirm that it was indeed a funnel.
"It certainly looks like it though," Dery said.
Dery identified a single cell storm located near Waterville around the time Cleverly said the photo was taken. The graphics below show a closer look at the storm.
Washington has seen severe weather in the last few days, with lightning confirmed east of the Cascades on Thursday according to the National Weather Service.
More than 2,000 lightning strikes were seen across the state Wednesday according to the Department of Natural Resources.