Inflow jet height

[Dave Gallaher]

In most videos I've seen of inflow jets around tornadoes, dust and small debris makes good tracers for action near the ground. Do we know how tall an inflow jet is? Is it limited to a few yards above the surface, or does it extend part way or all the way to cloud base?

Would anyone care to post links to good inflow jet vids? Thanks.

 

[cdcollura]

Good day,

Inflow jets are highly localized inflow patterns caused by the tornado INTERACTING with the ground.

Above: Inflow jet into weak tornado (about 20-50 feet "deep") - May 23, 2002 near Lipscomb, TX.

Above: Same storm, farther left - Weak tornado.

These features, as you might have assumed, only extend no more than 100 feet or so in height.

Above that, a general inflow prevails into the tornado / supercell notch that does extend to cloud base (but is not an inflow "jet").

 

[Dave Gallaher]

Thanks, Chris. Good illustration. I can't remember which video it was, but I remember one where two chasers are parked on the road as an inflow jet screams across right in front of them. I'm hoping some others here might have footage to post.

 

[Connor McCrorey]

Thanks, Chris. Good illustration. I can't remember which video it was, but I remember one where two chasers are parked on the road as an inflow jet screams across right in front of them. I'm hoping some others here might have footage to post.

Maybe Reed Timmer's Manitoba tornado video?

 

[Dave Gallaher]

Maybe Reed Timmer's Manitoba tornado video?

No (though I like that one); I think it might have been one of Tim Marshall's from the 1990s, or something back in that era. I haven't replaced all my VHS chase tapes with DVDs yet and lack a working VHS player at this point.

 

[Darrin Rasberry]

Maybe Reed Timmer's Manitoba tornado video?

Haha, the best advice ever regarding inflow jets is on that one: "Once you see the inflow jet, back up ... BACK THE #@# UP!"

 

[Sean Poling]

Heres a pic of a storm last May in NW Kansas. Wouldnt let me post my
video for some reason.

You can make your own assumptions on the height of inflow and such.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but low-level mesocyclonic inflow found near the ground is relatively stronger than inflow higher above, and is obviously more visible because of dirt and ground debris it picks up.

 

[Niccolò Ubalducci]

Heres a pic of a storm last May in NW Kansas. Wouldnt let me post my
video for some reason.

You can make your own assumptions on the height of inflow and such.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but low-level mesocyclonic inflow found near the ground is relatively stronger than inflow higher above, and is obviously more visible because of dirt and ground debris it picks up.

This is Wakeney Supercell... right?

 

[Sean Poling]

Exactly, Niccolo.
In fact, I due recall meeting a friendly Italian guy on a storm I tracked prior to this one.
Perhaps it was you, or someone from your team.

 

[Niccolò Ubalducci]

Exactly, Niccolo.
In fact, I due recall meeting a friendly Italian guy on a storm I tracked prior to this one.
Perhaps it was you, or someone from your team.

Sean, maybe its someone of my team.

This yesr I'll be on USA for Chasing from 20 April to 15 May!

 

[Niccolò Ubalducci]

This is the Supercell of Wakeney...

http://www.meteopassione.eu/index.php?showimage=400

 

[Sean Poling]

Beautiful pic! Nasty storm. There were quite a few that day.
Heres the vid I was looking for...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UG0CrjJAQM

 

[Bryan Smith]

Here is an example of an inflow jet I observed during tornadogenesis on 5/22/04 several miles sw of Belleville, KS. See the link below. http://www.bsu.edu/web/stormchasers/gallery/wallclouds/bryans/001.jpg

Winds were approximately 40 kts out of the south at the time of the photo.

 

[cdcollura]

Good day all,

For video, shot in 1986 (Minnesota news crew) from a helicopter of a very impressive tornado in a wooded area, by far has some intricate inflow-jet dyanamics.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9T1kl5UMtxo

This video is GOLDEN scientific evidence - even by today's standards.

 

[Dave Gallaher]

Absolute evidence, indeed, and it's great to revisit that video. Thanks, Chris. I am wondering about the variance of circumferential grasp on inflow jets now, as in how far do they extend from the center of a vortex in terms of being identifiable within the general windfield. I recognize that this can vary with the actual vortex size. I seem to remember wedge videos that showed inflow jet action among the classic footage out there.