It happens rarely in Alaska, but on April 20, a land spout tornado was spotted at the 3,500-foot level near Wolverine Peak in Chugach State Park.
Photographs by Geremy Clarion were distributed by the National Weather Service Anchorage and the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, which verified the atmospheric event. It may be the fifth recorded tornado since statehood, according to some reports.
The World Meteorological Atlas says that snownados are “very rare”, particularly in lowland areas, but are occasionally seen in mountains, which are subject to more complex wind patterns. In Alaska’s vast mountainous landscape and small population, a brief tornado would not be easy to spot, much less capture by camera lens.
A snownado occurred in the Shetland Islands of Scotland last year and was captured on video, seen at The Weather Channel.
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Suzanne Downing founded Must Read Alaska and served as its editor for many years. Her prolific writing spans nearly every topic meaningful to Alaskans. Before founding Must Read Alaska, she served as editor of the Juneau Empire and as a speechwriter for Governor Sean Parnell.
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