FORT STOCKTON, Texas — NewsWest 9 viewers spotted a land spout in Fort Stockton on Wednesday that touched down on the ground.
A land spout is a type of tornado not associated with a mesocyclone. A land spout is technically classified as a type of tornado although they differ from the average twister that destroys homes and property.
Land spouts form from the rising updraft of a thunderstorm. This rising motion can sometimes create a vacuum of air in the thunderstorm which needs to be filled. In order to fill this, an inflow is developed which consists of the column of air being sucked into the thunderstorm. The column often stretches from the surface up to the cloud where it is officially considered a land spout. The rotation is caused by shear from winds at the surface, which is the primary difference between a land spout and a classic tornado.
A classic tornado forms from a rotating updraft which can be much more powerful than surface winds. And as a result, classic super cell thunderstorms are often more powerful than land spouts. Classic tornadoes start from wall clouds which are often rotating as a result of the updraft rotating. A funnel cloud often follows in the sequence of developments which is essentially a tornado that hasn't touched the surface. Once the funnel cloud hits the surface, a tornado can be confirmed.
Classic tornadoes can become extremely violent depending on the environment they're situated in. Land spouts, despite being classified as tornadoes, generally remain weak and only cause minor damage if any. Still, it's a good idea to keep a distance from land spouts as small debris, such as tree branches, can be picked up and thrown.