I saw a picture of this, so I was a little surprised. Is it considered to be a landspout when this happens, or another type of tornado altogether, or something else completely?
2007-11-29 04:38:35 · 3 answers · asked by kenny boy 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Weather
I have chased storms for over 40 years now. I have seen several hundred cold air funnels and none have ever came close to the ground.
I have had conversations with other experienced chasers and most also say they have never seen one get close to the ground. The few that claim they have seen one touch the ground also will say that it likely may have been something other than a cold air funnel or a hybrid of cold air funnel in combination something else. They and I don't know.
I have long ago learned to never say never when it comes to weather events.
I never seen one touch down but does that mean they can not. I believe they could do it under certain, very unusual, conditions. But, I have not seen one yet touch so I can not say conclusively that they can't.
2007-11-29 05:35:57 · answer #1 · answered by Water 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most tornadoes and waterspouts that we have here in Southern California are cold air funnels. They are similar to landspouts because they do not need a supercell (at least not a radar-identifiable one) to form. I had a cold air funnel type tornado touch down a few blocks away from my house in San Diego--it ripped up some fences, damaged some roofs and dropped a palm tree on top of some poor guy's car, destroying it. I missed the whole thing, because it happened about 2 am.
2007-11-29 16:42:29 · answer #2 · answered by pegminer 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have seen them in Upper Michigan in Marquette county. They generally don't do any damage. Kind of like the dust devils you see in the desert, but with snow.
2007-11-29 12:47:44 · answer #3 · answered by Mad Jack 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋