Blake Michaleski
EF4
I'd say its your typical waterspout out over Laguna Madre. Now if it came ashore, then opens the can of worms that is tornado terminology.
Mike Krzywonski
I'd say its your typical waterspout out over Laguna Madre. Now if it came ashore, then opens the can of worms that is tornado terminology.
Someone supposedly witnessed it touch down over land.
Dick McGowan
EF5
Mike, did that happen in the open field between Port Isabel and Laguna Heights? I used to live down in "The Valley" when I was younger, so I go back down there quite often. In 2005, Port Isabel was possibly hit with a tornado somewhere around 5 a.m. I can't remember the date, but some claimed to have witnessed it; I missed it by 2 days. It couldn't have been more than 50 yards wide (If that's what it was). There was more minor damage done to a motel, and a few houses IIRC. Here are some pictures I took of the damage.
Each time I go back, I hope that I see a waterspout or something, but never have yet. My uncle says he has seen them come down on the arroyo near Arroyo City, but nothing recent. Nice pics!
Each time I go back, I hope that I see a waterspout or something, but never have yet. My uncle says he has seen them come down on the arroyo near Arroyo City, but nothing recent. Nice pics!
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Mike Krzywonski
I was told that it was just outside of Laguna Vista about a month ago. I didn't hear about the one you mentioned. However, I did see some photos of storm damage in Port Isabel about 6 years ago (e.g. overturned RV's & U-Haul trailers), but that was thought to be from straight-line winds. Thanks for the pics.
Gene Moore
EF3
There have been a number of tornado, landspout and waterspout reports this summer over south Texas, from the coast inland a few hundred miles. For the most part these have been caused by the large number of easterly waves coming across the Gulf of Mexico this year. In fact there is one in the GOM right now and will make landfall over TX/ LA Friday and Saturday. These systems bring a big slug of moisture along with instability (generally cooler 700 mb temperatures). The upper air pattern does have winds aloft and mild shear, although the shear (turning) does appear to be somewhat reversed from the classic tornado patterns. The most damaging incident I'm aware of was southeast of San Antonio last month when a tornado hit about 5 AM. There have been other tornado reports in Louisiana with these systems.
It's almost impossible to chase this pattern with a plan. That is, they tend to be short lines and big cluster of random cells. So finding the correct storm at the exact moment of spin up would require a certain amount of luck. I'm inclined to think the funnels these systems spin up are likely weak tornadoes as opposed to the classic waterspouts.... unfortunately any vortex on the water is a waterspout
It's almost impossible to chase this pattern with a plan. That is, they tend to be short lines and big cluster of random cells. So finding the correct storm at the exact moment of spin up would require a certain amount of luck. I'm inclined to think the funnels these systems spin up are likely weak tornadoes as opposed to the classic waterspouts.... unfortunately any vortex on the water is a waterspout
Dick McGowan
EF5
Yeah, this one was in early to mid June of 2005, and was in the newspaper as a "tornado." I think I have the paper somewhere around here. It doesn't look like tornado damage to me, I thought it was just wind, but evidently people on the docks nearby saw it. The damage "path" was so narrow and only about 200 yards long, I guess it could have been one.
