Erie pa (tornado, living in, basements)

[ozzy11340]

How many waterspouts on average does erie get down near the island or you can see from erie want to get a video or picture

[dugdogmaster]

Not very often, once every couple years. You're better off running into one down in Florida. Why would you want to even get that close to a tornado over water anyway?

[eastcoasthustla]

By "down near the island", I'm assuming you are referring to off the shore of Presque Isle peninsula. As dugdogmater said, not too often there. But further out into Lake Erie, they occur quite often during summer thunderstorms passing over the lake. You can definitely see them from higher points in the city/Millcreek Township.

[TechieTransplant]

Originally Posted by eastcoasthustla

By "down near the island", I'm assuming you are referring to off the shore of Presque Isle peninsula. As dugdogmater said, not too often there. But further out into Lake Erie, they occur quite often during summer thunderstorms passing over the lake.

Most of this is not true. Waterspouts are often seen in the fall, rather than the spring, when cold fronts come across the warmer waters of Lake Erie. I can't remember a year while living in Erie (over 36 years) when I did not see one.

Can they be seen from Presque Isle? Depending on which side of the peninsula you are on. On the Presque Isle Bay side, you can see approx 8-10 miles to the east, and you can see approximately that far out to the northern horizon. On the Lake Erie side, you can see approximately the same distance to the west and again, across the northern horizon. And FYI, we were on a late fall dinner cruise on Presque Isle Bay when a waterspout touched down west of Dobbins Landing; because of this we were not able to set out for our cruise and remained moored for the entire event.

[Rtom45]

On a good day, we can see the cooling towers on the Canadian side of the lake from our deck. In 14 years here, I've only seen one waterspout. I don't spend all my time watching the lake, so I'm sure there were more than that.

[eastcoasthustla]

Originally Posted by scottrpriester

Most of this is not true. Waterspouts are often seen in the fall, rather than the spring, when cold fronts come across the warmer waters of Lake Erie. I can't remember a year while living in Erie (over 36 years) when I did not see one.

Can they be seen from Presque Isle? Depending on which side of the peninsula you are on. On the Presque Isle Bay side, you can see approx 8-10 miles to the east, and you can see approximately that far out to the northern horizon. On the Lake Erie side, you can see approximately the same distance to the west and again, across the northern horizon. And FYI, we were on a late fall dinner cruise on Presque Isle Bay when a waterspout touched down west of Dobbins Landing; because of this we were not able to set out for our cruise and remained moored for the entire event.

What is not true? Yes, waterspouts do occur in the fall as well, but the warmest lake waters of the summer months (late June, July, August, September) spawn the most waterspouts when cold fronts pass over the lake. And who said anything about seeing them in the spring? No one, but you.

And yes, you can see them from Presque Isle, but the original poster asked how many they get "down near the island". Not as many waterspouts occur close to Presque Isle as they do further out in the lake due to the prevailing wind patterns on the lake near Presque Isle. If numerous waterspouts occurred very close to Presque Isle often, the peninsula would be battered by frequent touchdowns causing extensive, highly-visible damage to vegetation (and even coastline structure). The ones that occur further out in the lake are viewed more clearly from higher elevations than from the peninsula due to the increased visual field and absence of lake level rain causing Rayleigh scattering during a thuderstorm event.

Here are a few videos.

[TechieTransplant]

Originally Posted by eastcoasthustla

What is not true? Yes, waterspouts do occur in the fall as well, but the warmest lake waters of the summer months (late June, July, August, September) spawn the most waterspouts when cold fronts pass over the lake. And who said anything about seeing them in the spring? No one, but you.

I mistyped and meant summer, not spring. And that's what I meant is not true, I lived in Erie over 36 years and you rarely see them any other time other than the Fall.

[eastcoasthustla]

Originally Posted by scottrpriester

I mistyped and meant summer, not spring. And that's what I meant is not true, I lived in Erie over 36 years and you rarely see them any other time other than the Fall.

I doesn't matter how long you lived in Erie, your statement is incorrect. YOU may not see them any time other than fall, but waterspouts occur most often in August and September. So, yes, waterspouts do occur in the early fall (late Sept/early Oct), but rarely beyond then, as lake water temps. are no longer high enough to spawn them with relative consistency. I know this from being required to view NOAA mariner's weather logs every day while I was stationed in Erie with the Coast Guard.


source: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Wade Szilagyi, Program Manager Meteorologist, Meteorological Service of Canada, Toronto

[TechieTransplant]

Originally Posted by eastcoasthustla

I doesn't matter how long you lived in Erie, your statement is incorrect. YOU may not see them any time other than fall, but waterspouts occur most often in August and September. So, yes, waterspouts do occur in the early fall (late Sept/early Oct), but rarely beyond then, as lake water temps. are no longer high enough to spawn them with relative consistency. I know this from being required to view NOAA mariner's weather logs every day while I was stationed in Erie with the Coast Guard.


source: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Wade Szilagyi, Program Manager Meteorologist, Meteorological Service of Canada, Toronto

Ok "hustla", looks like your spring and summer comment wasn't correct either.

[Ohiogirl81]

Have never seen one.

Of course, when the weather is favorable for the formation of such phenomena, everyone with common sense is hunkering down in their basements.