Funnel cloud observed over Exeter @ 1:15pm today (11th)

Captured it on video and photos.

It didn't reach down very far though but it was a real treat to watch.

Regards

Warren

10 miles north of Exeter

"Graham Radmore" wrote in message
...
Funnel cloud observed over Exeter @ 1:15pm today (11th)

Captured it on video and photos.
It didn't reach down very far though but it was a real treat to
watch.

Yes, this seems to confirm something that has slightly worried me
....
that BBC TV weather presenters report a "tornado" when they
mean only a funnel cloud.

Of the three(?) reports in the last few days, do we know
if any of them actually touched down?

Philip Eden

"Philip Eden" philipATweatherHYPHENukDOTcom wrote in message
...

"Graham Radmore" wrote in message
...
Funnel cloud observed over Exeter @ 1:15pm today (11th)

Captured it on video and photos.
It didn't reach down very far though but it was a real treat to
watch.

Yes, this seems to confirm something that has slightly worried me
...
that BBC TV weather presenters report a "tornado" when they
mean only a funnel cloud.

Of the three(?) reports in the last few days, do we know
if any of them actually touched down?

Philip Eden




From today's Express and Echo - Exeter

'Freak Storm Hits County'

Very sensational reporting - "A tornado swept across Devon as a bout of
freak weather produced storms and a heatwave" (19 Celcius).......
........."a giant vacuum cleaner sucking up everything in its path"

Full article -

http://www.thisisexeter.co.uk/displa...tentPK=9926949


--

Henry Massey
Exeter
Devon

On Wed, 12 May 2004 11:51:14 +0000 (UTC), "Henry" wrote:



"Philip Eden" philipATweatherHYPHENukDOTcom wrote in message
.. .

"Graham Radmore" wrote in message
...
Funnel cloud observed over Exeter @ 1:15pm today (11th)

Captured it on video and photos.
It didn't reach down very far though but it was a real treat to
watch.

Yes, this seems to confirm something that has slightly worried me
...
that BBC TV weather presenters report a "tornado" when they
mean only a funnel cloud.

Of the three(?) reports in the last few days, do we know
if any of them actually touched down?

Philip Eden




From today's Express and Echo - Exeter

'Freak Storm Hits County'

Very sensational reporting - "A tornado swept across Devon as a bout of
freak weather produced storms and a heatwave" (19 Celcius).......
........"a giant vacuum cleaner sucking up everything in its path"

Notice how the Met Office man tries to play it down, but in vain. The ladies
and gentlemen of the press have got a story and their sure as hell not going to
let the truth get in the way of it. Best bit of hyperbole ("powerful",
"collided", "massive", "burst", "racing") associated with a minor funnel cloud
I have seen in a long while.

"At around 4.30pm yesterday, powerful winds travelling in opposite directions
collided, causing a massive funnel to burst downward from the sky over Dartmoor.
The twister was seen racing across moorland between Crediton and Okehampton for
a few minutes before disappearing into the clouds. No damage was reported.

Met Office spokesman Nigel Bolton said: "Strong winds moved up from the south
towards Tiverton just as winds moved in from the north. A thunderstorm was
already brewing and, when the two winds met, they rose into the storm, causing a
short-lived tornado across the northern fringes of Dartmoor."

The tornado reportedly travelled for 30 metres during its four-minute life.

Mr Bolton added: "It would not have been around for long. The funnel will have
twisted down from the clouds and, within moments, would have disappeared
straight back up again."

Tornados are violent whirling winds accompanied by a funnel-shaped cloud
extending down to the ground.

The air pressure at the lowest point is extremely low, so when the tip makes
contact with the ground, it acts like a giant vacuum cleaner sucking up
everything in its path."

About as believable as a Daily Mirror photograph

JPG




Full article -

http://www.thisisexeter.co.uk/displa...tentPK=9926949

And sometimes virga associated with a shower cloud can look very much like a
funnel cloud situation.

Ian Currie-Coulsdon



"Philip Eden" philipATweatherHYPHENukDOTcom wrote in message
...

"Graham Radmore" wrote in message
...
Funnel cloud observed over Exeter @ 1:15pm today (11th)

Captured it on video and photos.
It didn't reach down very far though but it was a real treat to
watch.

Yes, this seems to confirm something that has slightly worried me
...
that BBC TV weather presenters report a "tornado" when they
mean only a funnel cloud.

Of the three(?) reports in the last few days, do we know
if any of them actually touched down?

Philip Eden