Friday, April 26, 2013

W is for Waterspout



A waterspout is a tornado that travels over water.

As a girl scout of 10 years old, I rode my bicycle about five miles from my home to cook my foiled meal over a campfire in order to earn a badge. The location was a levee on Lake Pontchartrain. Once there, I walked another mile along the levee until I came to the perfect spot to build my campfire.

I finished my meal and then suddenly the weather changed, the sky darkened, and the breeze increased. I put out the fire and made all my preparations to leave. By the time I arrived to the road to head home, twin waterspouts formed over the lake approximately half a mile out. The fascination of watching them spin kept me from rushing home.

I stood there and watched them touch, then break apart again as they danced across the water. They began to inch closer and closer before I realized the danger and decided I had better run for my life. By the time I had ridden about a block, I glanced back to see them suck back into the sky as though a great vacuum cleaner had pulled them into the clouds.

That was the first time I had witnessed a waterspout.


 

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wow. That must have been awesome. I've seen pictures and I would love to witness one (from a safe distance ^_~)

Unknown said...

Thanks Patricia. It was awesome. I've never had the opportunity again except when I watched Twister at the movies.

Jocelyn Rish said...

I always have nightmares about tornadoes and freak out when I hear about tornado watches and warnings. So that picture of so many water spouts in one place will probably revisit me tonight in my dreams. :-) But that must have been a fascinating sight to see.

Sally said...

Wow, scary and frightening and exhilirating what nature can do.

Gwen Gardner said...

OMG, all I can think about is you being 10 and riding your bike so far away from home out in the wilderness. Yikes! What a brave little soul.

I've seen waterspouts, but definitely from a distance. They can be kind of scary.

P.S. It's been so long since I've been here that I tried to follow but realized I'm already a follower. It's nice to see you again!