OC Coastal Weather Phenomenon: Photo Of The Day

On Monday, a reader sent a photograph of a strange atmospheric phenomenon to Patch. The clouds had what Patch fan Alicia Napier called a "tornado-looking effect."

Yes, we agree, those are some crazy clouds, and the weather has been a bit on the wild side for most of us this winter!

Patch asked our resident meteorologist, Alexander Tardy of the National Weather Service what Napier witnessed.

This photograph shows a line of showers that moved through South Orange County, Oceanside to Escondido, he told us.

"No, it wasn't a tornado," Tardy explained. "This was a rain shaft (rain reaching the ground) with the sun shining on it. Possible small hail, too.

The weather phenomenon of rain not reaching the ground, or Virga, but this rain did pour, according to Tardy. In that area, strong wind gusts of 25 to 35 mph also whipped up that weather into a frenzy!

Thanks for the photo, Alicia! Also, if you have a weather question or a picture you want to share, send it our way! Your Patch Editor would love to share it with your fellow readers.

Photo: Courtesy Alicia Napier