6/9/2007 DISC: NM

[Sam Barricklow]

Photos of the Santa Fe tornado can be viewed at:

http://www.freenewmexican.com/gallery_detail.php?galleryid=1937&photoid=53230

Was this a mesocyclone tornado or a landspout?

 

[Dan Robinson]

Looks like an RFD clear slot is present in those shots.

 

[Brian Emfinger]

I saw that warning on grlevel yesterday and took a peak and considering the elevation and radar image...i think it likely was associated with a meso. It would be nice to know exact locations and times of when the pictures were taken but I thought I saw some rotation and if there was then theres the answer.

Edit: Of course it looks like a landspout and if hadnt taken a peak at the radar when I saw that warning then I would agree.

 

[Bob Schafer]

It would be nice to know exact locations and times of when the pictures were taken.

I'm pretty sure it was right about 2120-2130Z. Jody has the location.

 

[Stan Rose]

Its a landspout, period. You can argue all day about whether or not it was "associated with a meso" Im associated with a meso, too!

 

[Jody Radzik]

I saw this event from my house at a distance of about 25 miles. The brand new cell was extremely high-based, at least 6,500 ft high. The updraft base was flat with very little in the way of features, at least compared to the cells in KS, OK and TX that produce tornadoes that I've observed. It also had a fairly weak downdraft at the time of the event.

Here's the velocity scan from ABX during the event along with the .5 degree reflectivity.

I'm no expert by any means, but I'm not seeing anything that could be called rotation in the velocity scan. I believe it's possible there was some rotation in the updraft, but not nearly as vigorous as that associated with a true supercellular tornado.

Addendum: Today I spoke with someone who witnessed the entire event from a ranch a few miles away. They said the tornado clearly started from the ground as a dust devil and was pulled into the updraft.

 

[bill mudd]

it's possible that the twister was a landspout, however :

1.I believe it has a wall cloud charteristic in one of the SF news photos
2.it produced an overshooting top (I saw and recorded it)
3.it produced quarter sized hail in Santa FE (my nephew in Sante FE measured it)
4.it produced a funnel about an hour later (I photographed it)
5.there was small RFD wind event later on this storm (I witnessed it)

could there have been a funnel up high 1st? we dont know really do we?

Personally I feel it was a cross between a tornado/dust devil/landspout....
maybe it doesnt have to be one or another ?

Central New Mexico Twister a "CNMT"

 

[Doug Lee]

Pay attention to detail...

I call it a landspout.

1. The feature that appears to be a wall cloud, and probably is one, is behind the tornado where it connects to the thunderstorm base. See Sam's 3rd pic of the tornado in the link.
2. It tapers from bottom to top, suggesting the strongest rotation is near the surface, or originates near the surface.
3. What happened later has no bearing on how this tornado should be classified. Sure the later event may confirm the severe status of the thunderstorm, but we can only determine the classification of the tornado from what happens before and during the tornado.

 

[Menno van der Haven]

When looking at the photographs, I (totally subjective) would call it a landspout.
In the photographs you can also see the "larger rotation" at the cloudbase, around the tornado. That is something that often can be viewed when spouts occur.

 

[Bobby Eddins]

Based on radar I'd say there was a meso involved. Most spouts don't have as many wiggles too.

 

[cdcollura]

It looks like a small RFD like clear-slot is near the tornado / landspout in the photo.

Maybe a small mesocyclone, but with high-base and low condensation levels making it a "hybrid" between a landspout and full-fledged tornado.