I have posted a number of pictures from our 23 July 2008 Spotsylvania county chase during which we saw even more funnels and/or tornadoes than we originally thought. In the hopes of alleviating winter-time induced SDS (we did have almost an inch of snow this morning despite my forecast for 2") I went back through the original untouched pictures I took on that date and came across the above photo. It was taken at 8:17 p.m. local time, approximately 6 minutes after we witnessed a narrow funnel touch down about 4-5 miles east of our location. While continuing to snap photos I captured this image, for which I have darkened and enhanced the contrast to show what looks like a massive wallcloud or - more likely - a previously unidentified stovepipe funnel near the center. The feature shows a definitely different look than the rainshafts on both sides, leading me to conclude that it wasn't another rainshaft but indeed a funnel that looks like it has touched down, i.e. a tornado. If it hadn't been so near dark, if the traffic congestion and poor road system to our east hadn't been a factor, etc....we would have continued eastward to keep an eye on this feature amid the expanding rain area. But, as it was, we saw other funnels later that evening a bit further south in Spotsylvania county. The preponderance of severe weather that day still amazes me even months later.
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
What are the odds that this is not a tornado?
I have posted a number of pictures from our 23 July 2008 Spotsylvania county chase during which we saw even more funnels and/or tornadoes than we originally thought. In the hopes of alleviating winter-time induced SDS (we did have almost an inch of snow this morning despite my forecast for 2") I went back through the original untouched pictures I took on that date and came across the above photo. It was taken at 8:17 p.m. local time, approximately 6 minutes after we witnessed a narrow funnel touch down about 4-5 miles east of our location. While continuing to snap photos I captured this image, for which I have darkened and enhanced the contrast to show what looks like a massive wallcloud or - more likely - a previously unidentified stovepipe funnel near the center. The feature shows a definitely different look than the rainshafts on both sides, leading me to conclude that it wasn't another rainshaft but indeed a funnel that looks like it has touched down, i.e. a tornado. If it hadn't been so near dark, if the traffic congestion and poor road system to our east hadn't been a factor, etc....we would have continued eastward to keep an eye on this feature amid the expanding rain area. But, as it was, we saw other funnels later that evening a bit further south in Spotsylvania county. The preponderance of severe weather that day still amazes me even months later.
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2 comments:
How do you think severe weather season is looking for this area this year?
Robert,
That's always the million dollar question...my guess is that the cold and dry weather we have had will mean a later spring and therefore a later start to the severe weather season. However, since northern VA tends to have a significant amount of severe weather in June and July, a later start to the chasing season may not mean much. But, it's all guesswork at this point!
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