Forecasters on Tuesday warned the public of the potential for funnel clouds in the Portland area and elsewhere in the region.

There will be showers and scattered thunderstorms Tuesday throughout southwest Washington and northwest Oregon, the National Weather Service said. Some of them will make heavy downpours and brief, gusty winds.

That weather pattern has produced funnel clouds before, the weather service said, and the agency is keeping an eye on the potential for funnel clouds Tuesday afternoon.

"Any funnel cloud could touch down as a brief tornado," the agency said in a special weather statement. "If you see a funnel cloud, move indoors to safety, then contact local law enforcement or the National Weather Service in Portland."

-- Jim Ryan