Texas Towns Experience Rare Snownado During Winter Storm

Have you ever heard of a Snownado? Several towns in Texas experienced one over the weekend during the winter storm.

Snownados Spotted in Parts of North and East Texas This Weekend

Meteorologist Dylan Federico posted a photo on his Facebook page showing a snow tornado or Snownado in Payne Springs, Texas. Numerous reports of other Snownados were seen across North Texas lakes and East Texas over the last 24 hours, like this one reported by Meteorologist Conley Isom. See the video here.

What is a Snownado or Snow Devil? Is it Dangerous?

Snownados are a rare phenomenon that occurs when air near the ground or lighter air over colder air rises, tilting the horizontal spin into a vertical vortex, causing an updraft like a waterspout. This can occur when a lake is still warm and gets hit by a sudden arctic blast, like this weekend.

It forms over a body of water, like a lake, or on the ground, such as a dust devil, but wrapped in snow. The swirling column of snow is usually very weak, unlike a tornado, but could be strong enough to blow over some chairs.

Now all we need is a Sharknado in a Snownado, and we have a new movie.

Winter Storm Fern Photos in Deep East Texas

I was able to get out and get some photos of the aftermath of Winter Storm Fern. They weren't the hard-hitting photos of damage left behind like some people had to endure, but some pretty cool pictures of the ice brought on by the storm. Check it out!

Gallery Credit: Mark Cunningham