Dust devils on the water

[Tyrone Shoes]

I fished the Potomac last week just upriver from Columbia Island marina. It was choppy but clear with a good amount of boat traffic.

About 50 yards away I saw not one but two small, swirling wind events. The equivalent of a large dust devil that you'd see on a baseball field except they were actually picking up some water. Lasted about 15 seconds.

Ive seen large waterspouts in S Fla and the Bay. These were about 40' tall at their peak.

Anyone else see something like this?

[docirv]

Had one start a few feet from me while I was wading and fly fishing. I got out of the water quick and it was coming in my direction but as soon as it hit the land it collapsed.

[Tyrone Shoes]

By the time I got my phone/camera out......they were gone.

[HJS]

I've often wondered if there is a basic, distinct difference between dust-devils and tornados, besides size... same question if they were over water. I'm thinking there is because many if not all the dozens of dust-devils I have seen at ball parks and farm fields have been while there were no significant clouds overhead. On the other hand, all the tornados I've seen on TV are always associated with big, heavy, black clouds.

[dDreadnaught]

Here is a thread form TidalFish where someone filmed a water funnel on the Susquehanna Flats:
http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/show...o-on-the-flats

Video Only:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=H_O-8XHxBMU

[hamtech]

What you saw was probably a wingtip vortex from a jet taking off from or landing at DCA. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wingtip_vortices They are very common off Daingerfield Island just south of the airport and quite . . . interesting and exciting if you have the sail up on your Hobie kayak and don't see it coming.