Rare Lake Michigan waterspout sends spray hundreds of feet into the air
Published October 25, 2005
A waterspout over the open waters of Lake Michigan a mile east of the Adler Planetarium early Monday caught the attention of residents and commuters alike. Waterspouts, tornadic circulations over water, are far from unknown here--but don't occur with great frequency. Great Lakes waterspouts are most often observed when lake temperatures are at their highest--in August, September and October--and when cold air makes contact with the comparatively warm water, as happened Monday. With the lake surface averaging 57 (degrees) Monday and readings a mile aloft just 27 (degrees), vertical temperature declines were twice normal. This encouraged air, warmed by the lake and therefore buoyant, to rise with vigor. The air which flowed in to replace it began to spin initiating Monday's waterspout.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-0510250208oct25,1,3559364.column
Posted by Dave at October 25, 2005 09:49 AM