Much of southern Ohio was blanketed by a tornado warning Monday night, as the dark skies were illuminated by only brief flashes of lightning.

The National Weather Service (NWS) in Wilmington issued a tornado warning at 8:41 p.m. for Northern Scioto County, northeastern Adams County and southern Pike County. Local residents were advised to find immediate shelter in an interior room on the lowest floor of a study building, and avoid windows. The storm warning continued until 10 p.m.

A flood advisory was also issued at 8:48 p.m. until 11:45 p.m.

The NWS said they are investigating reports of a possible funnel cloud touch down in Pike County. At this time, however, those reports are still unconfirmed, and the NWS has no reports of a funnel cloud touching down in Scioto County. But Josh Coburn snapped a photo of what appears to be a funnel cloud behind his home on Ashley Corner in South Webster about 8:46 p.m. Monday.

“As I was looking up right through the break in the clouds where it was turning daylight, the perfect funnel cloud came halfway down and then went back up just as quick as it had formed,” Coburn said.

He said it rained only very little and there were no damages near his home.

Mariah Colley, 14, also snapped a photo of clouds gathering to form a funnel near Giovanni’s in Minford.

“It looked like a big, grey cloud. It was pretty bad. I was scared,” she said.

Scioto County Engineer Craig Opperman said there were a few trees blown down and only 0.18 inches of rainfall. The NWS also confirmed no major storm damages were reported in Scioto County.

RYAN SCOTT OTTNEY can be reached at (740) 353-3101, ext. 235, rottney@heartlandpublications.com.