A Wild Waterspout Week

The WeatherGuys scooped me on some recent waterspout photos besides the one off Long Island last week.

The NWS in Green Bay says:

"A waterspout formed on the waters of Green Bay during the morning of September 29. This type of waterspout, which forms when cold air aloft moves across the warm lake waters, can be dangerous to boaters, as winds can exceed 50 mph. The photo [at right] was taken by Peninsula State Park Forest Ranger Cory Anderson."

And the NWS in Grand Rapids, Michigan has some photos of more, saying:

"On the morning of Friday, September 29, 2006, a few waterspouts occurred over the nearshore waters of Lake Michigan between South Haven and Grand Haven. These waterspouts were embedded within strong showers that formed over Lake Michigan."

The folks at the Grand Rapids office also posted radar images which are as benign looking as the one I posted from the Long Island waterspout. They explain:

"Waterspouts are somewhat common over the Great Lakes in the Fall season. Waterspouts in the fall occur when colder air above the surface moves over the still relatively warmer waters of Lake Michigan. Most waterspouts that occur in this type of scenario typically occur under plain showers and are much weaker than their summer counterparts. This fall type of waterspout is different from waterspouts associated with thunderstorms."