Tornado Ahead
14 July 2009 | Annapolis MD
Extremly Hazardous
An hour after arriving in Annapolis we were beset by strong thunderstorms comming up out of the West. The hook was set well just off the Naval Academy and we were busy getting dinner ready when I happened to look up and see a huge funnel cloud forming immediately off the bow. This ring of dark fast moving clouds was turning counter clockwise at scary fast pace and as Jean and I watched it intensified. The sky began to turn an ugly green black color and the wind lept from a gentle breeze to well over 35 kts shutting down our wind generator. I told Jean to get below and keep the kids low, that I would be right after her and to try and stay away from the galley with the loose pots and can goods. As she turned to go below the funnel dropped suddenly toward the boat some 1500 feet. The winds increased and we began to get big drops of rain. Just as the cloud edged over the water it disintegrated as quickly as it had formed. We estimated it had been nearly a mile in diameter. It was a very close call.