Topic: Tornado Humpty Doo, Northern Territory: 29 Nov 2008

[Mike]

Looks like I've finally got myself a landspout from a thunderstorm.  Had it confirmed by a seasoned chaser overseas and Michael here also reckons it's a goer.  Two photos for comparison, original and one contrasted to highlight the funnel.  The storm was late afternoon on 29 November 2008. It was a vicious lightning active bugger with heavy precip and obviously with vorticity.

---> Darwin radar loop

[Shaun Galman]

Nice capture Mike.

Looked convincing enough to me when I saw the original post a few days back!

Your definitely one up on me lol, not enough water out in these parts to create a spout

Take it easy,
Shauno

[David C]

Nice capture Mike.

Looked convincing enough to me when I saw the original post a few days back!

Your definitely one up on me lol, not enough water out in these parts to create a spout

Take it easy,
Shauno

Nice pic Mike - looks convincing, but not really the location (ie downdraft) where you would expect to see a waterspout - was it in the precip, or is that just how it appears in the photo?

[Mike]

Hard to say where it was located either in or out of it - the precip was pretty intense and the wind was moderate.  Whether this thing was behind the precip curtain and appears inside it given my location then who knows.  Certainly generated a lot of interest up here though!  I think I have some more images without lightning - will have to hunt them unless I've deleted them from the card....

[australiasevereweather]

David and Mike,

I am confused - is this a landspout or waterspout? Looks convincing to me David.

Regards,

Jimmy Deguara

[Mike]

I think it's a land spout, I did a recon drive the other day and there's no dams in behind this plantation that I could visibly see from the road - although there might be .... George Kourounis viewed the images also so that was confirmation enough for me, he told me the structure of it from the cloud base definitely displayed funnel characteristics.  Thanks Jimmy also, your valuable interpretation is invaluable to me.

[australiasevereweather]

I have to say Mike, that's fantastic! When did you exactly notice you had this?

Jimmy Deguara

[Mike]

Not until the next morning when downloading all the chase images.  I got about 3 photos of CGs from the same spot and probably 8 more without, although I deleted the photos from the camera, they still would be 'on file' on the chip as I have not formatted the camera since.  I'll be having a look at those once I figure how to 'get' those files and see if the funnel shows itself.  I would never have looked for that to be honest considering I've never seen or heard of anyone capturing a spout inland - plenty over the harbour of late - and I do look more closely now at storm bases!

I've given the photos and details to BoM here for their consideration.  They compile a detailed spreadsheet at the end of the wet and post it to the spotters network up here of what storms we had, their type, any unusual events, winds etc, etc so it might be useful for them - one would think!

[David C]

David and Mike,

I am confused - is this a landspout or waterspout? Looks convincing to me David.

Regards,

Jimmy Deguara

Jimmy, have you ever seen a landspout, or waterspout for that matter, develop in a region that close to cool downdraft air? Looks for sure to be a tornado of some sort, but it would be interesting to know a little more about the storm/pre-storm conditions at the time. It does not look like a landspout-type tornado in appearance. 

[Mike]

Hi David, I'll dig up some obs re sounding and stuff and anything else if it assists.

[David C]

Hi David, I'll dig up some obs re sounding and stuff and anything else if it assists.

That would be good Mike. That's a nice spout in the other thread too and has the classic waterspout appearance. Top stuff!

[Jimmy Deguara]

Hi David,

My error - I meant to indicate that it was definitely some sort of tornado. Because I saw spout, I had to act on the terminology at hand. So tornado is what it is -w hat dynamics are in place is another matter and it would be interesting whether doppler covers this region.

Regards,

Jimmy Deguara

[Mike]

We have Doppler here which covered that area but to get an archived link might be difficult especially showing Doppler winds.  I'll see if a couple of guys at BOM can get me the run.  Can't even get a satpic loop either - man, this is frustrating and I really should have gotten all this stuff the next day i shot it.

I'll dig deep.

Sounding here but you can add a couple of degrees for temp - more like 33c.

[cloudfairy]

Here you go.... the sat pics.....I did that at home, so I'll check if I can cut out the area. Cause I know I have these pics in higher resolution.
Doppler, I will ask them, but they are really busy atm, with the low and I should be busy too with my MJO.

[Mike]

Thanks for the sat images Renate, much appreciated.  It might be a while till I get some decent obs from BoM - as Renate mentioned they're flat out with the monsoon and that pesky low, but I'll keep this thread informed as I get stats.