The United States continues to grapple with a severe and deadly Arctic blast, bringing frigid temperatures, snow, and travel chaos to much of the eastern half of the country. Amid this extreme weather event, a remarkable and visually striking phenomenon has emerged in Texas: towering, tornado-like columns of steam spiralling from lake surfaces, colloquially termed 'steamnadoes'.
Dramatic Steam Vortices Captured on Video
Several of these 'scary-looking' steamnadoes have been reported on lakes across North and Central Texas. A notable video shared by the US National Weather Service office in Fort Worth captured the impressive sight above Lake Lewisville, located approximately a dozen miles north of Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. The footage shows the vortices, resembling traditional tornadoes, rotating and rising high into the air.
Weather Service Reassures Public on Safety
Despite their intimidating appearance, the National Weather Service has moved quickly to reassure residents that these steamnadoes are harmless. In a detailed Facebook post, the agency explained the meteorological conditions behind their formation. "These occur when very cold Arctic air moves over still-warm lake waters, along with a favorably moist and unstable low-level atmosphere, to create steam that can rotate and rise upward into the clouds," the service stated. The post emphasised, "Although very impressive and scary looking, they are thankfully harmless!"
Also known as 'steam spouts' or 'steam devils', these phenomena can stretch to heights exceeding 1,500 feet. They are distinct from waterspouts, which are another type of vortex occurring over water bodies, and typically last only a few minutes before dissipating.
Deadly Winter Storm Context
The appearance of these steamnadoes coincides with a severe and dangerous winter storm system, named Winter Storm Fern, which is sweeping across the nation. In Texas, cities are facing multiple inches of snow, with the Arctic blast bringing a hazardous mix of sleet, freezing rain, and snow. This has caused severe disruption to both air and road travel, while also leaving hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses without power, particularly across southeastern states.
Tragic Human Cost of the Storm
The storm has already claimed lives. In Texas, two fatalities have been reported. In Austin, an as-yet unidentified man was found dead in a gas station parking lot. Separately, in Frisco, a tragic sledding accident on Sunday resulted in the death of a 16-year-old girl when her sled hit a curb and collided with a tree, according to Fox 4 News.
Tragically, the death toll extends beyond Texas. Reports indicate more than a dozen other fatalities across the country attributed to the storm. This includes five individuals who were caught outside in New York City and eight people who died in a plane crash in Maine, incidents linked to the severe weather conditions.
The economic impact of Winter Storm Fern is projected to be substantial, with early estimates suggesting the storm could cost the country more than $100 billion in damages, recovery efforts, and lost productivity.
As communities battle the cold and authorities work to restore services, the spectacle of the steamnadoes serves as a stark reminder of the powerful and sometimes surreal forces of nature at play during extreme weather events.
