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15 January 2009: Lake Champlain Sea Smoke, Steam Devils, and Waterspouts
Exotic Whirls in Arctic Air
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Figure 1. Video capture of a waterspout over Lake Champlain at approximately 10:30am EST on 15 Jaunary 2009. Steam fog is also faintly evident
near the water surface. View is from Essex, New York looking to the east toward Vermont. Air temperature was approximately -50F and water temperature was near freezing.
I. Overview
No fewer than five waterspouts were observed over the southern portion of Lake Champlain
during the mid-morning hours on Thursday, 15 January 2009. Smaller low-level whirls
(sometimes referred to as steam devils) were also abundant, originating from the arctic sea smoke or steam fog near the
water surface. Documented waterspout activity over Lake Champlain is rare.
The video images shown herein are courtesy of Mr. Andy MacDougal of Essex, New York, who was
out filming events over the lake around 10:30am EST that morning. The images appear
here with Mr. MacDougal's kind permission for the scientic record and for educational purposes.
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weather.gov 
