A rare phenomenon arose off Texas’ Gulf Coast amid the deep freeze that struck many parts of the United States this week.
Rolling twirls of water vapor known as “steam devils” were spotted over the Gulf of Mexico near Galveston as an arctic air mass brought sub-freezing temperatures to the more than 140 million people residing in the Lone Star State and other Mid-West states.
As covered in The Dallas Express, North Texas saw the pipes of several municipal buildings freeze over and the canceling of classes at multiple schools due to heat and mechanical issues. As such, the rare sight of steam devils was a welcome silver lining to what has otherwise been a disruptive meteorological event.
Steam devils are formed as frigid air travels across warmer water, mixing with the warm air located just above the water’s surface. A captivating visual of sea smoke is produced once that air drops below the dew point, according to Galveston Island State Park officials. This forces the air to condense into fog, drifting in curls on the surface of the water and painting an otherworldly portrait.
An eerily beautiful sight this morning from the Sky Cam in Galveston as steam fog/devils, crepuscular rays, and low clouds mix together to create what looks like a backdrop for a movie scene. Hope everyone is staying warm….just about 24 hours to go in this cold snap!! Hang in… pic.twitter.com/usdGwPgulm
— Saltwater-Recon.com (@SaltwaterRecon) January 16, 2024
These spooky twirling clouds fit to serve as the background for any horror movie were also caught on camera in Chicago, forming over Lake Michigan. The Windy City actually reached wind chills of minus 40 degrees on January 15-16.
You know it's cold when the lake is smoking… feels like -31F… #Chicago #blizzard #ChicagoScanner pic.twitter.com/fTQyvVOwvn
— anotherjoefromchicago (@YetAnotherJoe) January 14, 2024
Another steam devil resembling a mini-tornado also popped up in British Columbia’s Okanagan Lake late last week. In this case, the differences in pressure caused by the cold air meeting with the warmer water produced fog and forced it to rotate, forming a column.
@cbcvancouver Residents of Kelowna, B.C., witnessed what they describe as a mini tornado forming over Lake Okanagan Friday morning. Environment Canada says it was most likely a ‘steam devil,’ which can form when a blast of cold air settles over a warmer body of water. #kelowna #kelownabc #steam #weather #cold #lake #okanagan #snow #canada #britishcolumbia #canada #tornado #steamdevil
“It is similar to dust devils which we see over dry land rather than a tornado which is caused by a severe thunderstorm, and those tend to be associated with much stronger winds,” explained Alyssa Charbonneau, a meteorologist with Environment Canada, according to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
