A waterspout is a rotating column of air and mist that forms over a body of water. It looks like a funnel-shaped cloud extending from a cumulus or cumulonimbus cloud down to the surface of the water. Waterspouts can resemble tornadoes, and in fact, some are just tornadoes that happen over water.
There are two main types:
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Fair-weather waterspouts:
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More common.
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Form during calm weather, often in tropical or subtropical regions.
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Develop from the water surface upward.
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Usually weaker and short-lived.
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Tornadic waterspouts:
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More dangerous.
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Form from strong thunderstorms, just like land tornadoes.
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Develop from the cloud downward.
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Can be strong, destructive, and even move onto land (becoming tornadoes).
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Key Features:
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Usually occur in warm, coastal areas.
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Often appear as a thin, dark funnel reaching down to the water.
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Can last from a few minutes up to 30 minutes or more.
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Can pose threats to boats, aircraft, and shoreline structures.
