Waikato Funnel cloud

NZstorm · Unread post by **NZstorm** » Sat 09/10/2004 15:34

I observed a distant funnel cloud over the Waikato today just after midday. The funnel was associated with a big Cumulus buildup and was observed from State Hwy 1 north of Huntly, looking east. The funnel was observable for about 10minutes as I drove south and would have been about 15km away. I stopped to get some pictures and decided to head east to get closer but lost view of it behind the hills. I took a wrong turn (where's the map when you need it), lost some time and eventually when the cloud buildup came within close view, the funnel was well gone and replaced by rain.

Willoughby · Unread post by **Willoughby** » Sat 09/10/2004 16:01

Looking north, 11.45am today.

03Stormchaser · Unread post by **03Stormchaser** » Sat 09/10/2004 17:00

Awsome stuff Steven W:)

Now that Ive got a car again, looks as if me and Aaron will be doing abit more chasing should something come up this summer!! What am I saying something will come up!!

NZstorm · Unread post by **NZstorm** » Sat 09/10/2004 17:08

One day I hope to get a decent picture of a funnel cloud. In todays instance, it was too distant and I didn't have a tripod with me.

Thunder · Unread post by **Thunder** » Sat 09/10/2004 17:15

Scene as you were from a distance it looks to of been quite biggish!

Great work !!!

Quick, get it off to TV one if you want, they might show it on the weather at the end of the show: [email protected] Get it to them before 5:30pm if you can. Chances are they would show it due to it's significants!! Or TV3 but I don't know their email.

Once again, glad you were out there Steven W!

Do you think it could've been a tornado at one point??

Looking at the midday sounding the winds look to be NNW from about 1000mb to 800mb then WSW the rest of the way up so there looks to of been just enough turning in the atmosphere (90 degrees). Perhaps it wasn't associated with that (it might've helped?) and the convective environment that the clouds were in was the main factor? As I say, always the chance of a FC during a thunderstorm!! In this case there looks to of been big Cu congestus. It's also good to hear it persisted for 10 minutes, very nice.

And good pic Foggy!

spwill · Unread post by **spwill** » Sat 09/10/2004 17:32

Thanks Guys for the photos

Well done Nzstorm on your very good photo- Funnel cloud from developing Cu.
Any Funnel cloud photo is a good one.

NZstorm · Unread post by **NZstorm** » Sat 09/10/2004 17:33

Do you think it could've been a tornado at one point??

No. This would have been just a funnel cloud I'd say.

In this case there looks to of been big Cu congestus.

Yes, it was possibly the biggest cumulus in the region. I had my eye on this cloud for a while and then noticed the funnel as I got closer. Perhaps
foggy's photo is related.

This funnel would have formed within the parameters of the local wind/thernodynamic environment. I believe this type of funnel is not unusual in NZ and would number in excess of a 100 occurances a year, but most go unnoticed or unrecorded.

03Stormchaser · Unread post by **03Stormchaser** » Sat 09/10/2004 17:35

Steven did you manage toget it off too the news intime?

In reply too you post about getting a good F/C photo I found this one on the net that is quite unusal!

Quote that came with it: A picture taken by motorist Claudia Kanne shows the funnel cloud that formed near Farmington Hill Tuesday afternoon. The funnel cloud touched down at 12:44 p.m., causing damage to a shed, barn and other equipment

spwill · Unread post by **spwill** » Sat 09/10/2004 17:54

Your photo Stormchaser is a developing Tornado from I'm sure a Cb out the picture.

03Stormchaser · Unread post by **03Stormchaser** » Sat 09/10/2004 18:30

ITs not my photo, but the article said it destroyed a shed etc, but at this stage its was a F/C. IT probably was but imagine being under the F/C looking up at it

NZstorm · Unread post by **NZstorm** » Sat 09/10/2004 18:53

Steven did you manage toget it off too the news intime?

I didn't send it to the news as I don't think the photo is good enough.

C-Nimbus · Unread post by **C-Nimbus** » Sun 10/10/2004 11:25

NZstorm wrote:
Do you think it could've been a tornado at one point??
No. This would have been just a funnel cloud I'd say.

In this case there looks to of been big Cu congestus.
Yes, it was possibly the biggest cumulus in the region. I had my eye on this cloud for a while and then noticed the funnel as I got closer. Perhaps
foggy's photo is related.

This funnel would have formed within the parameters of the local wind/thernodynamic environment. I believe this type of funnel is not unusual in NZ and would number in excess of a 100 occurances a year, but most go unnoticed or unrecorded.

Thats right Steven W, when i lived in the waikato i saw around five F/C similar to this, and also originating from Cu rather than Cb. Most people wouldn't even notice something like this, so its no surprise that most of them don't get documented or reported.

I thought i saw a much smaller F/C development in a largish Cu over the bombays yesterday at around midday, but didn't have the camera!! (Doh!)

Maybe the extra lifting over the bombays caused a wee bit of extra ooomph and hence the short lived funnel formation.

A freind of mine who lives in Bombay claimed a tornado (?) had taken out a couple of 10 year old pine trees not too long ago!

03Stormchaser · Unread post by **03Stormchaser** » Sun 10/10/2004 11:35

C-Nimbus wrote:
I thought i saw a much smaller F/C development in a largish Cu over the bombays yesterday at around midday, but didn't have the camera!! (Doh!)

Ive learnt my lesson dont go anywere without a camera now, I will be keeping one in the glovebox aswell!!

Manukau heads obs · Sun 10/10/2004 12:18

great stuff steven!
you are real dedicated to drive all the way down to huntly to get some shots

mentioning bomaby hills, reminded me:
Years ago (20?) a tornado did a fair bit of damage in tuakau...it came in from the West....destroyed a onion wharehouse type shed!

NZstorm · Unread post by **NZstorm** » Sun 10/10/2004 12:50

you are real dedicated to drive all the way down to Huntly to get some shots

Waikato is a nice spot and that hill country east of Te Kauwhata is a breeding ground for cb's, in summer atleast.

Most people wouldn't even notice something like this, so its no surprise that most of them don't get documented or reported.

Yes. I am sure there is alot of larger tornadoes/waterspouts that go unobserved or unreported as well.

GraemeWi · Unread post by **GraemeWi** » Sun 10/10/2004 20:20

NZstorm wrote: I stopped to get some pictures and decided to head east to get closer but lost view of it behind the hills. I took a wrong turn (where's the map when you need it), lost some time and eventually when the cloud buildup came within close view, the funnel was well gone and replaced by rain.

Great picture!

Have you had a look at a mapping GPS? They are awesome for driving around backroads

I'm currently working on a project for a set of open source NZ maps for the Garmin mapping GPS models.

Cheers,

G

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