[Dave Hancox]

Got loads of pics of this on the telephoto but this first pic is what caught my eye, must have just dropped down out of my line of sight as I was taking pictures and ready to go home. I didn't see rotation to far away didn't last long and dispersed. I am not saying its an FC but a possible. However the fact I have to think about it tells me it probably isn't

I will convert the other photo's and get them posted. Hopefully you can see what I was hoping it was. I will use contrast adjustment only.

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[John Mason]

Dave, I'd say that it may well be a small funnel, on account of its very smooth sides. Scudsuckers are typically very ragged by comparison.

Cheers - John

[Stuart Robinson]

Yep Funnel - no dought

Great camrea catch BTW

[Ed.]

Aye, as John quite rightly points out the more defined edge does (pardon the pun) give it that edge against scud, indeed conditions have been more favourable for such developments.Nice capture Dave!

[Dave Hancox]

Thanks guys here's the rest for posting including close ups. See if it changes anyone's opinion if not I will move it to Convective Analysis thread.and change title.

1st pic 1956hrs last 1957hrs didn't last long need to change clock on cam lol hour behind.

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[Lightning Hunter]

Nice little funnel there Dave, with nice lighting too.

[Bazmundo]

Got me convinced Dave, nice funnel that. Well spotted!

[Chris CW (aka Seedubs)]

Cool, congrats Dave, one thing I would love to see (and photograph)

[Nigel Bolton]

Dave, what was the relationship between the low level wind flow and the hill in the background?

Reason I ask, is that you have captured a reasonably coherent funnel pendant from a rather ragged Cu. Me-thinks that the wind flow around the hill may have generated a vortex that was picked up by the passing Cu and stretched into a funnel. The lighting and the lack of precip falling from the Cu made the funnel very visible.

Looks to me like a topographically induced scudsucker.

N.

[Dave Hancox]

Nigel Bolton, on 17 April 2012 - 21:41, said:

Dave, what was the relationship between the low level wind flow and the hill in the background?

Reason I ask, is that you have captured a reasonably coherent funnel pendant from a rather ragged Cu. Me-thinks that the wind flow around the hill may have generated a vortex that was picked up by the passing Cu and stretched into a funnel. The lighting and the lack of precip falling from the Cu made the funnel very visible.

Looks to me like a topographically induced scudsucker.

N.

Hi Nigel this should give you a very rough idea small box my position large box aprox area of cloud overground and arrows wind direction top map North,

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[Dave Hancox]

I have added a question mark to the title as their seems to be a bit of dubiety about this one, I don't mind due to its distance away and not seeing rotation it raised the excitement factor to about 5 on a scale of 10 because of this . It looks like one, and I will need to go on with my quest . It does go to show that seeing things like this and evidencing the fact it is or isn't, is more difficult than it looks however its good to get the input from other members on Ukww sometimes you will never know.

[ChaserUK]

Yep I would certainly say a possible FC shame we cannot make out any convection above the cloud.

[Dave Hancox]

Checked radar - Nothing significant - wind would have been about 5mph from the South West, rain showers in the vicinity. other weather recorded in the area about an hour or so before here

http://www.ukweather...-dalmellington/

would be interested on final thoughts on this when as no more information available. Although to sight an FC the surrounding conditions point to it being a topographically induced event.

Rather than another post after reading this article http://www.newworlde...g/entry/Tornado

Did some more research on this and I am happy with the following outcome.

Cold air vortexA cold air vortex or shear funnel is a tiny, harmless funnel cloud which occasionally forms underneath or on the sides of normal cumuliform clouds, rarely causing any winds at ground-level. Their genesis and mechanics are poorly understood, as they are quite rare, short lived, and hard to spot (due to their non-rotational nature and small size). Phil Schumacher, 2005. FAQ's of Summer Weather. National Weather Service, Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Retrieved August 21, 2007

[stormy sam]

looks good ,was their rotation?

[Nigel Bolton]

Hi Dave,



Having a quick investigation based on the information you have given me, leads to the conclusion that this is a topographically induced funnel cloud.



Given the wind direction you have provided me, it looks like the airflow was being squeezed between Kiers Hill and Maratz Hill, along the direction of the Red Burn. Cyclonic spin was thus induced down wind of Kiers Hill, that was picked up by the cloud in your photo, and stretched into an albeit, weak vortex.



This is a very similar process to that which created the strong Bow Street tornado in central Wales, a few years ago. (See John Mason’s blog.



Hope this is OK.



Best.



N.

[Dave Hancox]

Thanks for that Nigel.