Unusual spray whirlwind

While I was fishing on Lindbergh Lake today, the wind increased to an alarming degree.  I looked up the lake and saw a line of whitecaps bearing down on me, so I pointed my nose into the line and waited for the wind to hit me.  As the line of whitecaps approached, a whirlwind of spray suddenly appeared off to my right at the front of the line of whitecaps.  This whirlwind moved rapidly to the left along the front of the line of whitecaps, passed about twenty yards in front of me, and continued to the left.  It must have been caused by some kind of sharp wind shear, but fortunately the whirlwind and wind shear didn't hit me.  I've seen spray blown up off whitecaps before, but never a whirlwind progressing rapidly sideways along the front of a big gust of wind.

I decided that it was not a good day to be on the water in a kayak.  After being hit by several pretty violent gusts, I made it into the shelter of a point, which was fortunately pretty close.  I hung out behind the point until the wind decreased for a while, and then charged back to the launch site and got off the lake.

The National Weather Service had predicted a lot of wind, but I didn't want to miss a day of fishing, so I went out despite a pretty threatening weather prediction.  That was bad judgment, and I'll be more cautious and conservative in the future.

I've just learned from your experience. Thanks.

Interesting report, glad you made it back safe.

Not sure if it's same. But windsurfing the gorge. When wind got 40 to 50 mph at would cause what we called liquid smoke. Looked like smoke hanging over the river.

Not sure if it's same. But windsurfing the gorge. When wind got 40 to 50 mph at would cause what we called liquid smoke. Looked like smoke hanging over the river.

No, what I saw was not just general spray being blown up off whitecaps by a strong wind, which is pretty common.  It was a small whirlwind of spray which was located at the leading edge of a powerful gust of wind, and which moved across the front of the gust at right angles to the direction of the wind.  I've never seen anything like that before.