Horseshoe vorticy?

[Melanie Kern-Favilla]

I took this photo in July and forgot about it. I was looking at the shape of the hooked cloud directly above the house (mansion?!) - Is it a horseshoe vorticy? Just wondering...

Melanie

 

[Andrew Ryan]

I'm far from an expert on this subject...but my guess is no.

Based on what I've seen is that they form above the cloud base and are thin and whispy. Also, this could be bad judgement, but I believe that they are slightly vertical.

This is all based on information that read about on a thread from last month. If you haven't already looked at this page, this might help.
http://davieswx.blogspot.com/2008_11_01_archive.html

I'm sure someone else will chime in soon to correct me.

 

[Chris Lott]

Here's a little something on horseshoe vortices with pics. I hope this helps.

http://www.weatherscapes.com/album.php?cat=clouds&subcat=horseshoe_vortices

 

[Melanie Kern-Favilla]

Thanks for the links, guys! Helped a lot.

 

[Chris Kennedy]

I photographed something similar

 

[Steve Miller TX]

Here are some pics of a cumulus horseshoe vorticy I was lucky enough to have captured in 2007.

 

[Jim Saueressig]

One of two I have captured.

 

[Brian Emfinger]

Wow Steve great pics... thats about the best I have seen of these things. I have seen them a few times but not since I have had a good camera!

http://www.realclearwx.com/images/01fff.jpg

http://www.realclearwx.com/images/02fff.jpg

and a little video.. u can just barely see it spinning if you look close:
http://www.realclearwx.com/fshorseshoe.htm

 

[Steve Miller TX]

Thanks Brian! I got as excited seeing it as I do a tornado. As to what causes these things, Jon Davies has a great write up about them along with pics from Shawna of two horseshoe vortices.

http://davieswx.blogspot.com/2008/11/twin-horseshoe-vortices-6-17-08-in.html

 

[Shawna Davies]

Thanks Brian! I got as excited seeing it as I do a tornado.

I agree! I also get as excited at seeing oddities like a horseshoe vortex or a cold air funnel as I do a tornado. So when I saw two vortices at the same time, I about flipped my lid.

Cool pics on this thread! Steve, your closeup pic of the horseshoe vortex ROCKS!

Shawna

 

[Patrick Boomer]

Great thread and photos everybody, that double shoe shot is very cool Shawna!
I was wondering what this thing was, it lasted for 10-15 minutes before evaporating.

 

[mike scantlin]

Not trying to be jerk, but shouldn't it be "horseshoe vortex"

I normally wouldn't say anything but reading the word vorticy just bothers me.

 

[Steve Miller TX]

Well, you would be correct since I don't think it is recognized as a word. I tried entering it on dictionary.com and m-w.com with no results. So, "vortex" it shall be from me from now on. I think it stems from "vortices" which are plural for vortex...I assume.

 

[Melanie Kern-Favilla]

I never said I was smart.

 

[Paul Austin]

Not trying to be jerk, but shouldn't it be "horseshoe vortex"

I normally wouldn't say anything but reading the word vorticy just bothers me.

Thanks, Mike. It's a small pet peeve of mine as well, but I was trying not to be a "jerk" about it Yes, according to dictionary.com, vortices or vortexes, pronounced vawr-tuh-sees in both cases is plural for vortex. It always bothers me a little when I hear things like "shear vorticy", "horseshoe vorticy", or "look at the vorticy" (pointing out one vortex of a multi-vortex tornado). So you're right...and you're a "jerk", like me. Well, maybe some of us just suffer from a little OCD .