Interesting LSR: WALL CLOUDS WITH SWIRLING DEBRIS

[mikegeukes]

0653 PM FUNNEL CLOUD 4 W STREETER 30.76N 99.44W
03/25/2005 MASON TX CO-OP OBSERVER

WALL CLOUDS WITH SWIRLING DEBRIS


0651 PM FUNNEL CLOUD 3 W STREETER 30.76N 99.43W
03/25/2005 MASON TX CO-OP OBSERVER

WALL CLOUD WITH SWIRLING DEBRIS

Source: http://kamala.cod.edu/offs/KSJT/0503260141.nwus54.html

Mike

 

[Robert Dewey]

Shouldn't that be classified as a tornado - A funnel cloud with debris?

 

[Jeff Lawson]

The report isn't detailed enough to make such a call, I think. "Swirling debris" could mean a lot of things, especially coming from a co-op observer (who, more than likely, is NOT a trained spotter).

Having worked at an NWS office in the past and having taken many a "tornado" report from spotters and the general public, my experience was that, while you log the report internally, you don't place it in the LSR as an actual tornado unless you're fairly certain about it. That's the way it worked at my office, at least (at the time).

 

[Blake Michaleski]

Same thing happened to the tornado Scott Blair and I intercepted in Sicily Island, LA on 8 NOV 2000. Very obviously a tornado but in the LSR it was labeled as wind damage. The LSR was not edited but in storm data it is listed as an F2.

 

[Mikel Shively]

Ive never worked at a NWS office, but im wondering if maybe these are the initial reports, the "raw data" if you will, that somewhere they edit and further classify internally. Just a thought maybe someone can enlighten me on how they work.