Weather question.
Russell W. Patterson at T.V.A.
Hi:
I'm a layman with a layman question:
This morning as I drove to work I noticed something strange on the surface of
the Tennessee river. The river was calm with lots of mist coming off of it.
The temperature was between 40-50 degrees F. The strange things I saw looked
like tornadoes reaching up about 50 feet or so. They appeared to be 2-3 feet
in diameter and looked like smooth little tornadoes. What I thought I was
seeing was a small tornado on the water. As I passed each one (saw 3 or 4 in
a 300 yard range) I didn't see any disturbance of the water surface and they
seemed to be stationary (I was traveling 45 MPH) and of the same composition
and texture of the surface mist.
What was that?
thanks,
russ
--------------------
Russell W. Patterson, Tennessee Valley Authority
Transmission/Power Supply, System Protection & Analysis
E-mail: rwpa...@tva.gov
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Chris Dutton
Russell W. Patterson at T.V.A. wrote:
>
> Hi:
>
> I'm a layman with a layman question:
>
> This morning as I drove to work I noticed something strange on the surface of
> the Tennessee river. The river was calm with lots of mist coming off of it.
> The temperature was between 40-50 degrees F. The strange things I saw looked
> like tornadoes reaching up about 50 feet or so. They appeared to be 2-3 feet
> in diameter and looked like smooth little tornadoes. What I thought I was
> seeing was a small tornado on the water. As I passed each one (saw 3 or 4 in
> a 300 yard range) I didn't see any disturbance of the water surface and they
> seemed to be stationary (I was traveling 45 MPH) and of the same composition
> and texture of the surface mist.
>
> What was that?
>
> thanks,
> russ
Sounds like it might be a "steam devil" a relative of the dust and snow
devil.
According to _The National Audubon Society Field Guide to North
American Weather_ (published by Alfred A Knopf, Inc.,
ISBN#0-679-40851-7) steam devils appear over warm water during the
winter or with cold air overlying warm water. Pages 520-522 describe
them in more detail and they even have a couple color pictures of steam
devils in the book. The book says steam devils have reached heights of
several hundred feet.
I love this book! Has many great photos and explanations to go with
them. Got mine at a local Waldenbook store.
I've seen my fair share of dust devils having lived in Lubbock TX for a
few years when I was a kid. Don't recall having ever seen a steam devil
in person before.
Disclaimer: I'm no expert, hardly more than a layman myself ;) but I
would be surprised if it was not a steam devil. Seems to fit the bill.
--
--Chris
UnderGraduate Meteorology Freshmen(IOW,don't ask I don't know yet:)
**Most often heard comment after a person learns my Major,
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