Waterspout at Sagami Harbor? Occurrence in Kanagawa

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1112040020/

December 4, 2011

Caption: Above Sagami harbor, a naturally occurring waterspout was seen on the 4^th, at around 7:05 AM. It was viewed from Izuō island, near the Enoden electric company’s Kamakura Koukoumae train station, in Kamakura city. (Photo provided by Mr. Izumida Takayuki).

Above Sagami harbor on the morning of December 4^th,  a water spout that appeared to be naturally occurring emerged. The picture was taken by Mr. Izumida Takayuki (Age 48). According to the Southern district of Yokohama harbor, from 6:45 AM until 7:00 AM passed, it appeared in the area of Izuō island, near Enoden electric company’s Kamakura Koukoumae train station, in Kamakura city.

According to Mr. Izumida, a cloud connected with the sea in a single spiral. For the span of several minutes, it is said that the waterspout was seen intermittently disappearing and re-emerging.

According to the Yokohama area meteorological observatory, waterspouts/tornados occur when warm and cold air flow into each other. The intense temperature change within the atmosphere causes a condition of instability, where during that time, such occurrences easily spring forth. No advisories for tornados/waterspouts were issued.

Original Text:

相模湾で竜巻？発生/神奈川

2011年12月4日

相模湾上に出現した竜巻と見られる自然現象＝４日午前７時５分ごろ、鎌倉市の江ノ電鎌倉高校前駅近くから伊豆大島方面を望む（泉田隆行さん提供）

相模湾上に４日朝、竜巻のような自然現象が出現した。写真を撮影した泉田隆行さん（48）＝横浜市港南区＝によると、午前６時45分ごろから７時過ぎにかけて、江ノ電鎌倉高校前駅（鎌倉市）近くから伊豆大島方面を望む方向に現れた。

泉田さんによると、上空の雲と海上とを結ぶ一筋の線のような状態が、数分間現れては消えるということが断続的に続いたという。

横浜地方気象台によると、竜巻は暖かい空気に冷たい空気が流れ込み、激しい温度差で大気の状態が不安定なときに発生しやすいという。竜巻注意報は出ていなかった。