curious about this feature

[Stephen Locke]

I am curious about the feature in this photograph. I'd be interested in your observations.

 

[Paul Knightley]

Hmm - I think I'd have to go with some kind of shallow gust front spin-up.

 

[AndyGabrielson]

That is fairly interesting, At one point it looks like a funnel maybe in the middle. A landspout looking spin up of some kind? Where was this taken?

 

[jeremy wilson]

Gustnado more than likely. Although some info on the setup and storm would really help here.

 

[Jason Boggs]

Definitely looks like a gustnado to me.

 

[Terry Tyler]

id agree with the others...you can see that there really isnt a whole lot of structure that would indicate an organized tornadic storm, also it looks to me anyway that it has that linear/shelf cloud/gust front type look as opposed to a well developed supercell...

was this photo taken at night? do you have a color photo available?

if you have any other photos of the storm, information on the date time or set up...it would help us confirm that...but, personally it looks more of a gustnado/land spout type deal...

 

[Darrin Rasberry]

looks like a whale's mouth/gustnado - good catch! I have a fondness for some odd things, yes

 

[Andrea Griffa]

Gustnado also to me! Nice picture!

 

[Jeff Richardson]

I agree with many others. It appears to be a shear zone spin-up/gustnado. Any other data/observations on the storm would be helpful. Great pic by the way!

 

[Stephen Locke]

radar grab

Thank you for your comments.
Here is a radar grab within minutes of exposure

I don't have much info on the general set-up.
However I have more photos and chase account here;

 

[jeremy wilson]

That radar image changes things a little, looks like a nice cell and you were in the right position to see something if something was there. I also didn't realize it was at night. Could be a meso induced spin-up. Maybe?

 

[Shane Adams]

I've yet to see a gustnado with a condensation funnel.

I gotta go landspout.

 

[Jason Boggs]

Hmm... I really don't see a condensation funnel there.

 

[Rob Wadsworth]

I have to agree with those that say it is a gustnado.
The 'tit' shaped base is suspicious though.
Stephen L; what happened before and after the event?

 

[Matthew Fischer]

This picture reminds me of what during the day by Murdo, SD in 2007. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rK8EyYaGGDE As you can see besides me getting owned by the outflow winds. There is a possible funnel with dust/debris under the funnel. So this can either be a dustnado or landspout.