Whirlwind on Wight

Project Vortex-99. Occluded mesocyclone tornadoIf you saw the TV news (or BBC Online) yesterday, you will’ve seen footage of a whirlwind whoosing across the car park on Brading Downs.

The video footage was taken by Gary Morrow, of Ryde and can be seen on the BBC Web site.

It’s quite extraordinary to watch.

According to the BBC report, a Met Office spokesman who viewed the footage said he thought it was a “dust devil”, another name for a whirlwind.

This sort of twister involves a swirling updraft, which can range from 1.5ft (0.5m) wide and several feet tall, to more than 35ft (11m) wide and more than 3,500ft (1.1km) tall.

Not quite as big as the pictured tornado by pingnews.com.

Thanks to forum member ‘apseheath alan’ for giving us the heads up yesterday.