What are Waterspouts?

About Waterspouts:

• A waterspout is a tornado-like column or funnel of violently rotating air that usually forms over the surface of the sea.
• It is a non-supercell tornado over water having a five-part life cycle,
  • formation of a dark spot on the water surface;
  • spiral pattern on the water surface;
  • formation of a spray ring;
  • development of the visible condensation funnel;
  • and ultimately, decay;
• Waterspouts form mostly in tropical and subtropical areas. But regions, including Europe, Middle-East, Australia, New Zealand and Antarctica also report these on rare occasions.
• They may assume many shapes and often occur in a series, called a waterspout family.
• Key characteristics of waterspouts include:
  • Funnel cloud: Waterspouts have a visible funnel-shaped cloud that extends downward from a parent cloud or the base of the thunderstorm.
  • Water connection: Waterspouts have a visible connection to the water's surface, drawing water or spray upward into the vortex.
  • Duration: Waterspouts can be relatively short-lived, ranging from a few minutes to an hour or so.
  • Size: Waterspouts are typically much smaller in scale compared to tornadoes, with diameters ranging from tens to a few hundred meters.
• They are classified into two main types: tornadic waterspouts and fair-weather waterspouts.
• Tornadic waterspouts:
  • They are tornadoes that form over water, or move from land to water.
  • They have the same characteristics as a land tornado.
  • They are associated with severe thunderstorms, and are often accompanied by high winds and seas, large hail, and frequent dangerous lightning.
• Fair weather waterspouts:
• They usually form along the dark flat base of a line of developing cumulus clouds.
• This type of waterspout is generally not associated with thunderstorms.
• While tornadic waterspouts develop downward in a thunderstorm, a fair-weather waterspout develops on the surface of the water and works its way upward.
• By the time the funnel is visible, a fair-weather waterspout is near maturity.
• Fair weather waterspouts form in light wind conditions so they normally move very little.

What is a Tornado?

• A tornado is a narrow, violently rotating column of air that extends from a thunderstorm to the ground.
• Because wind is invisible, it is hard to see a tornado unless it forms a condensation funnel made up of water droplets, dust and debris.