Rare Mountain Top Tornado

[Hum]

After reviewing reports and images captured of a rare tornado touchdown on a Colorado mountain over the weekend, the National Weather Service confirmed it is the second highest in elevation on record in the United States.

The tornado was confirmed to have touched down at 2:51 p.m. MDT Saturday near 11,900 feet on Mount Evans as strengthening thunderstorms moved over the area west of Denver, according to the NWS.

"What makes it so interesting is that it's so high. Our preliminary looks tell us it's the second highest recorded."

Typically, these types of storms can produce what are known as cold air funnels. Which are not tornadoes but do develop from cold air pooling in the upper levels of a thunderstorm.

Typically, these types of storms can produce what are known as cold air funnels. Which are not tornadoes but do develop from cold air pooling in the upper levels of a thunderstorm.

And with differing temperatures at altitude wind shear can cause a funnel-shaped cloud to drop from a thunderstorm. These funnels tend to be very weak and almost never touch the ground.

But in this situation the air entering the bottom of this Mount Evans storm was warm enough to produce a tornado touchdown.

No tornado warning was issued for the rotating storm due to the very high elevation, which made it undetectable by radar. No damage was reported.

more pics

[DocM]

^{Pucker time for the dude/dudette in the SUV :rofl:}

[Hum]

I wonder if it would have been safe to touch it ...

[DocM]

NO!

[link6155]

I thought I was seeing deja vu after reading the 4th paragraph twice :rofl:

[Crisp]

Pee in it?

[Dan~]

Still want to be in a mini tornado, prehaps wrapped in bubble wrap and then put in a zorb

[moloko]

yeah that would be freaky to see as you are driving by on the mountain side.

[Blaze_Zewi]

I once drive through a sandy dust devil out on the contry side. It was fun, but my car looked liked it just survive an IED blast afterwords.

[Hum]

I'd like to peer down inside it, from the top.