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47078
From: ryan, [DNS_Address]
Subject: rare Bay Area waterspout
URL: https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/waterspout-video-bay-area-sonoma-17717111.php
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‘Awestruck’ hiker captures rare footage of Bay Area waterspout Ariana Bindman, SFGATE Jan. 13, 2023 A waterspout is an intense, “ghostly spiral” that can reach 60 mph winds. This one was filmed off the coast of Sonoma County. A waterspout is an intense, “ghostly spiral” that can reach 60 mph winds. This one was filmed off the coast of Sonoma County. Omar Rogers A large, ethereal waterspout was spotted near Sonoma County’s Ocean Cove area on Tuesday, according to a clip posted to social media. The phenomenon was captured by Omar Rogers, a Santa Rosa resident who went hiking that day during dark and stormy weather in the region. These swirling vortexes of air and mist usually form over tropical ocean waters and can even travel on land if they’re powerful enough, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. “We were just so awestruck,” Rogers told SFGATE. “You know, it's just kind of confusing and just wonderful at the same time.” Even though he hails from the Midwest and is used to experiencing thunderstorms and tornadoes, Rogers said he had never seen anything like it before. Weather experts were excited that Rogers managed to document these fleeting forces in real time. National Weather Service meteorologist Brayden Murdock told SFGATE that these waterspouts usually “dip their toes in the water” for a few minutes before vanishing. “It’s rare for us to actually get a very clear video with a good time stamp,” he said. The intense, “ghostly spiral” can reach 60 mph winds, Murdock added. However, the chances of a water cell — or tornado that forms over water — reaching land seem pretty low. “Every once in a while we do see the potential for water cells and some of the storms that form off to the ocean, but as soon as they start to come close to land, they really start to break apart because the water gets shallower,” Murdock said. But it makes sense why this waterspout formed over Bay Area waters: The high peaks along the Sonoma County coastline block any wind that might interfere with them, creating the “frictionless” environment that waterspouts need in order to thrive, Murdock explained. Yet another storm is forecast to sweep through the Bay Area this weekend, and a flood watch is in effect through Monday afternoon. Refer to the weather service's guidance before hiking to any beaches or coastal areas. |
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[47086] [47087] [47088] [47090] [47079] [47080] [47081] [47082] [47083] [47084] [47085]
47086
From: eaamon, [DNS_Address]
Subject: Re: rare Bay Area waterspout
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back in the early 1990's I watched a funnel cloud 3000 feet tall come across South San Jose CA and dialed 911. when they answered I tried to report the possible tornado coming their way. she lady that answered the line said they did not have a plan on what to do when a call like that came in. she asked me "what should I do?" I said first it was headed towards her location Communication Hill, "get every body inside the building out of harms way, and send my call to one of the nearest fire stations." a fireman there had a cam corder and there was a excellent video on KNTV 11 that night. later that year they had two tornadoes touch down in Sunnyvale CA. your NWS storm spotter SC-140, me |
47087
From: Redhart, [DNS_Address]
Subject: Re: rare Bay Area waterspout
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yeah, I talk to relatives in the midwest and back east and you often hear, "Well, at least California doesn't get tornados and hurricanes"..and that's definitely a misconception! Now, we don't often get F-4s and I've never heard of an F-5 in california (which doesn't mean there hasn't been..but I've never heard of it), so one could say we don't get the BIG tornados often here..but we most definitely get tornadoes. And thank goodness you called it in and warned them! |
47088
From: eaamon, [DNS_Address]
Subject: Re: rare Bay Area waterspout
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in South San Jose CA had some straight line winds rip 6 roofs almost completely free of shingles and damaged several others one year during the late 1990's. that was 6 blocks in length, between Campbell and the Los Gatos foothills. so I know there can be some severe weather there... |
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[47090]
47090
From: Redhart, [DNS_Address]
Subject: Re: rare Bay Area waterspout
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Campbell-Los Gatos area is where I grew up. Know that area well. Westmont Warriors! Go team! |
Responses:
None
47079
From: Curly Bear, [DNS_Address]
Subject: Bay Area waterspouts
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I've got to laugh..."waterspouts". I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, and when we'd occasionally get strong winter storms, whenever someone would report a "waterspout" (i.e. small tornado) in the bay or on the land, the news (TV and newspapers) would ALWAYS say: "The reports of waterspouts could not be confirmed because no AUTHORITIES witnessed it." (and I've lived 50+ years in the S.F. Bay Area). I kid you not, those news folks NEVER told the truth about extreme weather events. I've heard that line of malarkey SO many times I can't help but laugh! |
47080
From: Redhart, [DNS_Address]
Subject: Re: Bay Area waterspouts
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Yeah, that rings true. Glad the hiker got the photo! Tornados and waterspouts are not as uncommon in California as many think. They are "generally" F-2 rated and below, but they happen every year during our stormy season. My own father was hospitalized in 1959 after his factory in Sunnyvale was hit by a tornado, ripping off the whole side and roof of the building he was working in. Luckily, bumps, bruises and some cracked ribs ...but yeah, tornados and water spouts happen. There were also reports of two tornadoes in the Central Valley with that same storm. |
47081
From: Jeff/Lake Almanor,CA, [DNS_Address]
Subject: Re: Bay Area waterspouts
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It's been know to rain fish, many mile inland from waterspouts. I remember hearing my Dad telling his story of being in one. |
47082
From: Redhart, [DNS_Address]
Subject: Re: Bay Area waterspouts
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I actually experienced something like this about 10 yrs ago. There were three, small tornados on the other side of the mountain in the desert..shortly after that report and weather warning that there were tornados nearby, it started raining pea-gravel. I thought at first it was hail, but they were actually small stones falling from the clouds. I couldn't believe my eyes and had to pick them up..pea gravel, like what you would find on a road. We figured out the culprit had to be the tornadoes...probably sucking up the gravel on the other side of the hill, and dropping them on us. Certainly, if it could do that with road gravel, it could do that with small fish and frogs and other things. I'm a believer. Weird stuff! |
47083
From: Jeff/Lake Almanor,CA, [DNS_Address]
Subject: Re: Bay Area waterspouts
| You know the saying, "raining cats and dogs". Could be the same culprit. |
47084
From: Redhart, [DNS_Address]
Subject: Re: Bay Area waterspouts
| COW. |
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[47085]
47085
From: Meghan, [DNS_Address]
Subject: Re: Bay Area waterspouts
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Wait...everybody knows that cows are only picked up by UFOs...Get a grip! LOL |
Responses:
None
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