Those of you reading my [WR]s will have seen me refer to 'water devils'.
These are the liquid form of 'dust 'devils' where a small column of
rotating dust or water is lifted up and skitters across the landscape or
surface of the water.

At the moment, a large number of 'water devils' are forming on Loch
Long, more frequently than I've noticed before, and I've managed to
photograph them.

My apologies for the quality. They were taken through a window using a
lens equivalent to a 600mm 35mm camera lens so camera shake hasn't
helped either.

http://windycroft.gt-britain.co.uk/Pc120764.jpg
http://windycroft.gt-britain.co.uk/Pc120766.jpg
http://windycroft.gt-britain.co.uk/Pc120768.jpg
http://windycroft.gt-britain.co.uk/Pc120769.jpg

--
Alan White
Twenty-eight miles NW of Glasgow, overlooking Lochs Long and Goil in Argyll, Scotland.
Webcam and weather:- http://windycroft.gt-britain.co.uk/weather
Some walks and treks:- http://windycroft.gt-britain.co.uk/walks

Alan White wrote:
Those of you reading my [WR]s will have seen me refer to 'water
devils'. These are the liquid form of 'dust 'devils' where a small
column of rotating dust or water is lifted up and skitters across the
landscape or surface of the water.

At the moment, a large number of 'water devils' are forming on Loch
Long, more frequently than I've noticed before, and I've managed to
photograph them.

My apologies for the quality. They were taken through a window using a
lens equivalent to a 600mm 35mm camera lens so camera shake hasn't
helped either.

http://windycroft.gt-britain.co.uk/Pc120764.jpg
http://windycroft.gt-britain.co.uk/Pc120766.jpg
http://windycroft.gt-britain.co.uk/Pc120768.jpg
http://windycroft.gt-britain.co.uk/Pc120769.jpg

Cool pics !

In message , Alan White
writes

Those of you reading my [WR]s will have seen me refer to 'water devils'.
These are the liquid form of 'dust 'devils' where a small column of
rotating dust or water is lifted up and skitters across the landscape or
surface of the water.

At the moment, a large number of 'water devils' are forming on Loch
Long, more frequently than I've noticed before, and I've managed to
photograph them.

My apologies for the quality. They were taken through a window using a
lens equivalent to a 600mm 35mm camera lens so camera shake hasn't
helped either.

http://windycroft.gt-britain.co.uk/Pc120764.jpg
http://windycroft.gt-britain.co.uk/Pc120766.jpg
http://windycroft.gt-britain.co.uk/Pc120768.jpg
http://windycroft.gt-britain.co.uk/Pc120769.jpg


Super photos, Alan. Used to see 'water devils' quite often between Largs
and Cumbrae in easterly gales. The easterlies on that part of the coast
are notable for their extreme gustiness. I suspect that the topography
in your neck of the woods is causing the wind at sea level in Loch Long
to be extremely gusty.

Norman.
(delete "thisbit" twice to e-mail)
--
Norman Lynagh Weather Consultancy
Chalfont St Giles 85m a.s.l.
England

On Tue, 12 Dec 2006 15:33:29 GMT, Norman Lynagh
wrote:

Super photos, Alan. Used to see 'water devils' quite often between Largs
and Cumbrae in easterly gales. The easterlies on that part of the coast
are notable for their extreme gustiness. I suspect that the topography
in your neck of the woods is causing the wind at sea level in Loch Long
to be extremely gusty.

The first time I saw them was on Loch Restil, the loch just below Rest
and be Thankful, on a windy day in 1990 and on the same day at the head
of Loch Etive.

I tried photographing them earlier today by hanging out of a Velux
window but it was very cold, they didn't perform and I gave up before
hypothermia set in.

It is extremely gusty but we've now got used to that wildly fluctuating
roaring noise in the chimney and even SHMBO has agreed that having an
open bedroom window is not a Good Thing.

The average wind speed so far this month is 9 mph, the windiest since we
moved here.

--
Alan White
Twenty-eight miles NW of Glasgow, overlooking Lochs Long and Goil in Argyll, Scotland.
Webcam and weather:- http://windycroft.gt-britain.co.uk/weather
Some walks and treks:- http://windycroft.gt-britain.co.uk/walks

I suspect some mountain wave rotor effect.

Interesting photos.

Jack

In message . com, "Jack
)" writes
I suspect some mountain wave rotor effect.

Interesting photos.

Jack

Certainly caused by airflow over very rugged high ground. The whole of
the west of Scotland is renowned for the fierceness of squalls at sea in
the lee of high ground, even in winds as low as Force 5-6. There are
many anchorages very popular with yachtsmen that can become untenable
due to the fierceness of the squalls even though they may appear to
offer complete shelter. The sudden high snatch loads induced by squalls
can cause anchors to break out.

Norman.
(delete "thisbit" twice to e-mail)
--
Norman Lynagh Weather Consultancy
Chalfont St Giles 85m a.s.l.
England

On 12 Dec 2006 09:06:14 -0800, "Jack )"
wrote:

I suspect some mountain wave rotor effect.

It could be caused by eddies formed when the wind divides either side of
the point between Lochs Long and Goil.

--
Alan White
Twenty-eight miles NW of Glasgow, overlooking Lochs Long and Goil in Argyll, Scotland.
Webcam and weather:- http://windycroft.gt-britain.co.uk/weather
Some walks and treks:- http://windycroft.gt-britain.co.uk/walks

On Tue, 12 Dec 2006 18:09:43 +0000, Alan White
wrote:

It could be caused by eddies formed when the wind divides either side of
the point between Lochs Long and Goil.

Apologies for replying to my own post, but with a westerly wind that's a
nonsense.

A more likely explanation is eddies caused by the wind *rounding* the
point between Lochs Long and Goil.

--
Alan White
Twenty-eight miles NW of Glasgow, overlooking Lochs Long and Goil in Argyll, Scotland.
Webcam and weather:- http://windycroft.gt-britain.co.uk/weather
Some walks and treks:- http://windycroft.gt-britain.co.uk/walks

"Alan White" wrote in message
...

Those of you reading my [WR]s will have seen me refer to 'water devils'.
These are the liquid form of 'dust 'devils' where a small column of
rotating dust or water is lifted up and skitters across the landscape or
surface of the water.

At the moment, a large number of 'water devils' are forming on Loch
Long, more frequently than I've noticed before, and I've managed to
photograph them.

My apologies for the quality. They were taken through a window using a
lens equivalent to a 600mm 35mm camera lens so camera shake hasn't
helped either.

http://windycroft.gt-britain.co.uk/Pc120764.jpg
http://windycroft.gt-britain.co.uk/Pc120766.jpg
http://windycroft.gt-britain.co.uk/Pc120768.jpg
http://windycroft.gt-britain.co.uk/Pc120769.jpg

I saw something very similar last week while driving along the side of
Bassenthwaite Lake on the way to Keswick. Hadn't heard the term, "water
devils" before, but I'll know what to call them next time I see them. If I
have a camera with me next time I'll try and stop and take a few photos.

ally

On Wed, 13 Dec 2006 10:17:40 -0000, "a l l y"
wrote:

Hadn't heard the term, "water
devils" before,

Neither had I ;-)

--
Alan White
Twenty-eight miles NW of Glasgow, overlooking Lochs Long and Goil in Argyll, Scotland.
Webcam and weather:- http://windycroft.gt-britain.co.uk/weather
Some walks and treks:- http://windycroft.gt-britain.co.uk/walks