Saw a Tornado at Sea Yesterday

[savageseadog]

Off the N Wales coast. Weather was 15-25 Kn with shower clouds and the tornado was visible at the back edge of a squall line, a clear dark funnel. It might have been about 2-4 miles North of us at a guess and we were about 2 miles N of Colwyn Bay. It hadn't touched down so possibly doesn't qualify as a true tornado or waterspout but scary enough.

 

[Judders]

At any sort of distance I find it hard to tell the difference between a Tornado and a Hobbie 18!..


...I'll get me coat.

 

[Fire99]

At any sort of distance I find it hard to tell the difference between a Tornado and a Hobbie 18!..


...I'll get me coat.

Boom Boom!

 

[oldharry]

Seemples: The Hobie is the one that falls over - or is that the Tornado... ?

Technically a Tornado that doesn't touch down is known as a 'Funnel cloud' and is surprisingly common in this country, but not often noticed. We actually get more Funnel Clouds and tornadoes than in America. Its just that the American ones are, being American, so much bigger that its difficult not to notice them!

 

[Crabber24]

or fair weather waterspout? you might like to look at this:
http://www.blipfoto.com/entry/2193439

 

[onesea]

or fair weather waterspout? you might like to look at this:
http://www.blipfoto.com/entry/2193439

Or a close up of one...

 

[savageseadog]

or fair weather waterspout? you might like to look at this:
http://www.blipfoto.com/entry/2193439

Fair weather or not, common or not, it's not exactly what you want see in your bit of the ocean.

The photo from that site is interesting as it looked exactly the same, it's quite possible that it was a waterspout as the lowest part isn't that easily seen and the weather was quite unsettled with thunderstorms forecast.

 

[savageseadog]

Here's one in the same area two years ago