With cell phone in hand recording video, Jackson Township police officer Patrick Mackin couldn't believe what he was seeing.

As a severe thunderstorm moved east across Ocean and Monmouth Counties last week, Mackin watched in disbelief as a funnel cloud descended from the western end of the storm, appearing to him to touch down in the 12,000-acre Colliers Mills Wildlife Management Area.

"When I first called it in to headquarters, I actually switched to a different frequency because I didn't want to sound like a fool on the radio," Mackin said. "I've never seen anything like that before."

The five-minute video Mackin shot (watch it below) shows a funnel cloud descending below the tree line off to his northeast. Mackin's report was used to issue a tornado warning for the area, and the National Weather Service later used Mackin's video to confirm a funnel cloud had occurred over the area.

The storms caused damage and even a fatality in nearby Manchester. But according to Dave Scheibe, Observation Program Director for the National Weather Service in Mount Holly, there was not enough evidence to classify what Mackin saw as a tornado.

"It was a funnel cloud, we know that. But there was no evidence to indicate that it actually touched down," he said.

That's not to say it didn't happen. Colliers Mills Wildlife Management Area, where the funnel cloud occurred, is extremely rural and difficult to access, Mackin said, and would make investigating damage patterns difficult.

"I know the area, there are no real trails back there or anything. The only way you could really get an idea of what happened is to look at it from above," he said.

Even though he may never know for sure, Mackin, a longtime weather buff, said he was "awestruck" by the experience and glad damage from the storm wasn't more severe.

"I've definitely always been interested in weather, I guess that's why I stopped to look," he said. "I've never (storm) chased or anything though. I guess the next stop for me is Kansas next April to see some of the real ones."

Stephen Stirling is a New Jersey weather fanatic. He welcomes suggestions for weather-related stories, issues and topics. Drop him a note at sstirling@starledger.com.

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