maria
New member
How are water spouts formed ?
Waterspouts
- Thread starter maria
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chaser_tyler
New member
Good question Maria,
Waterspouts are just tornadoes that are over water. They can form from the same dynamics as a land tornado, from a rotating thunderstorm (supercell).
There are also fair weather waterspouts which are the more common variety, and much weaker. It`s my belief they can form from a land and sea breeze convergence causing rotation, sometimes a towering cumulus can provide enough updraft. Another idea, later in the summer when sea temps reach their peak, a cold dry airmass can move over those high water temps to create an unstable and convective airmass, enough to provide rotation and updraft.
The difference between the two, the tornadic variety will drop from the storm itself, where as a fair weather variety begins from the surface and rises.
That`s my take!!
Waterspouts are just tornadoes that are over water. They can form from the same dynamics as a land tornado, from a rotating thunderstorm (supercell).
There are also fair weather waterspouts which are the more common variety, and much weaker. It`s my belief they can form from a land and sea breeze convergence causing rotation, sometimes a towering cumulus can provide enough updraft. Another idea, later in the summer when sea temps reach their peak, a cold dry airmass can move over those high water temps to create an unstable and convective airmass, enough to provide rotation and updraft.
The difference between the two, the tornadic variety will drop from the storm itself, where as a fair weather variety begins from the surface and rises.
That`s my take!!
maria
New member
Now I know, Thanks Tyler. Are they not shorter in life span than land tornadoes?
Hi Maria,
Usually they are. Fair weather tornadoes generally don`t move too far, due to lack of motion but they have been known to come ashore, however they usually fall apart rather quickly.
Spouts from a rotating thunderstorm can be a different creature altogether.
Usually they are. Fair weather tornadoes generally don`t move too far, due to lack of motion but they have been known to come ashore, however they usually fall apart rather quickly.
Spouts from a rotating thunderstorm can be a different creature altogether.
blizzard
New member
Some great information here, thank you for providing this. Do waterspouts get a Fujita-style classification like land tornadoes?
oldseadog
New member
As far as I am aware, the Fujita scale is only for land tornadoes, introduced by Ted Fujita back in the 60s or 70s. I actually prefer the UK based Torro scale which is scaled in wind speeds and not damage scale which is the Fujita model.