Not to be an alarmist, but you might see a small funnel cloud today in the unsettled skies.

But that doesn’t mean it’s a tornado. A funnel cloud becomes a tornado when it reaches the ground, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Danny Mercer.

The weather service is reporting that a cold unstable air mass with “a good deal of wind shear” will stream into Western Washington through this evening.

“This combination supports the formation of rotating thunderstorms that may produce cold-air funnel clouds, small hail and wind gusts to 45 mph,” according to a weather service statement. Some of that unstable air was hitting the coast at about noon.

The weather service suggests that you give it a call if you see “unusual convective activity” or a funnel cloud. The number is 206-526-6095, ext. 246.

The weather service has about 1,000 observers in its Skywarn Spotter Network in the region who are trained to report unusual weather to it. But, in this case, the weather service issued a “special statement,” Mercer said, asking for contact from the general public.

The temperatures will cool off through the week in Renton, with a slight chance of light snowfall Thursday morning. The weather forecast indicates a snow level of 300 feet is possible, with a low of around 32 degrees.

There’s a chance of snow Friday morning, but temperatures will rise that afternoon.

Rain or snow showers could return Sunday night and into the Presidents’ Day holiday Monday, according to the weather service.