Interesting phenomenon and NWS Sullivan write up (waterspout/tornado)

[ahaberlie]

Hey guys,

Thought you might be interested in this write up..

http://www.crh.noaa.gov/news/display_cmsstory.php?wfo=mkx&storyid=71794&source=0

On August 8th, without any thunderstorms in the area, a tornado occurred over an inland lake just south of the state capitol building in Madison, WI.

What is most interesting, much like the Springfield, Mass. tornado earlier in the year, surface convergence/near-vortex winds created patterns on the water (that is definitely where the similarities end.) These patterns are evident in some of the pictures provided in the write up.

Great videos:

Time lapse: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZ3YS0uvblU&feature=related

Close up: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9iiflC3QdA&feature=related

 

[Jeff Duda]

Jeez, I've never seen so much effort put into investigating the track of such an otherwise minimal tornado.

 

[ahaberlie]

It is a bit more rare up here.

 

[Stephen Levine]

Thank you for the interesting links. I think that the Madison NWS did an awesome job of documenting and explaining this type of occurance to the public, a great "teachable moment". Fun video too, would have loved to be on that cruise.