Highest Elevation Tornado (Pics) Ever Observed in the USA

[mikegeukes]

Highest Elevation Tornado Ever Observed in United States.
Tornado, Rockwell Pass: Sequoia National Park, July 7, 2004

Elevation at Rockwell Pass: ~11,600 feet. Base of tornado at ground level probably at
least at 12,000 feet. This makes this tornado the highest elevation tornado ever observed in the U.S.

Photographer: Scott Newton
http://tornado.sfsu.edu/RockwellPassTornado/ -Tornado Pictures
http://tornado.sfsu.edu/RockwellPassTornado/Page2.html

Mike

 

[Justin Teague]

What a lucky backpacker! Let that be a lesson for those that think tornadoes can't cross mountains. The rotation in that wall cloud is visually stunning, it reminds me of the Attica, KS wall cloud on May 12th.

 

[Tim Vasquez]

Great link. John Monteverdi is quite the storm expert, too, so his insight rounds out the photos nicely.

Tim

 

[Simone Lussardi]

It is said by two famous Italian writers (of which one is Machiavelli) that a powerful tornado cross middle-north Italy from East to West (yes, opposite to the westerlies) in August 1456. The historical documents contain dramatic details of the disaster's scene.

In the documents they both says that the tornado formed north of Ancona (along the Adriatic sea coastline) and crossed the Appennini, which in that position they are not so high in altitude, than enter Toscana region and pass close to Florence.

From the description of the tornado it appear like two - three mile wide multiple vortex tornado. From the damages is very difficult to give an estimation, but it could be F4-F5. Some of the damages were "incredible".

I'll post that document if I have time to translate it. Unfortunately is in ancient language and needs some time to translate it.

:wink:

 

[Howard Robinson]

Nice shots! I have heard of tornados in the Smokey Mountain Areas to form and come down into some valleys, but this tornado tops the cake.

 

[Jeff Wear]

More pics of this event can be found here.....

http://community.webshots.com/album/168275615yYZFxp

 

[rdale]

I don't see any pictures of the tornado - just a funnel cloud aloft which is how they refer to it as well... Did they actually witness a touchdown and not photograph it?

 

[David Young]

I don't see any pictures of the tornado - just a funnel cloud aloft which is how they refer to it as well... Did they actually witness a touchdown and not photograph it?

The caption of the fourth funnel picture (in the Webshots album linked to by Jeff above) says "Funnel over Rockwell Pass touched down." The picture appears to support this with a debris cloud, though it's hard to say for sure.

 

[Melissa Moon]

Impressive! I think I've been somewhere close to that on a jeep trail.

 

[Jeff Wear]

I don't see any pictures of the tornado - just a funnel cloud aloft which is how they refer to it as well... Did they actually witness a touchdown and not photograph it?

http://community.webshots.com/s/image2/7/6...76fqLYAg_fs.jpg (largest version - around 2200x1700)
http://community.webshots.com/photo/168275...176476376fqLYAg (with text)
http://tornado.sfsu.edu/RockwellPassTornado/Debris.jpg (750x563)

 

[rdale]

Thanks for the link - it appears to me that the funnel is over the top of the ridge and not actually touching the edge of the ridge... No biggie.