Waterspouts, also called tornadoes , are tornadoes that occur over a large body of water. Depending on their size, they can be taller or wider. Witnessing one is both spectacular and terrifying, not only because of the tornado itself but also because of the conditions under which it forms. They typically develop in cumuliform clouds over the sea, large lakes, and oceans. To witness one is like seeing a large, dense cloud "sucking" the water below, as if it were absorbing it.
Today we will talk about how these phenomena occur, the most spectacular that have been seen, the regions most conducive to having them and we will accompany with a video of such events.
How are waterspouts formed?
First of all, it's important to clarify that there are two types . Waterspouts can be divided into two categories: tornadic and non-tornadic. In the first case, as the name suggests, they form from tornadoes. In the second case, although they are similar in appearance, they are not tornadoes. However, there have also been cases of waterspouts as far away as Spain , as we discussed some time ago. If you want to know how waterspouts form, you can consult a related article at this link.
Types of waterspouts
Tornadic waterspouts form from a mesocyclone . A mesocyclone is a vortex of air, 2 to 10 km in diameter, within a convective storm. This is air that rises and rotates on a vertical axis. It forms within a very severe, organized, and long-lasting thunderstorm called a supercell. These types of tornadoes are usually the rarest. Tornadoes typically form over land rather than at sea and oceans. This is because the contrast between high surface temperatures and air currents is more pronounced. The damage they can cause is enormous, as they can have wind gusts of over 500 km/h (F5 on the Fujita scale). To learn more about these phenomena, you can visit our article about the most devastating tornadoes in history.
Water tornado in a port in Italy
Non-tornadic waterspouts , on the other hand, are not associated with a supercell thunderstorm, but they are much more common. They usually form in large cumulus or cumulonimbus clouds and are not as severe as those created in mesocyclones. Their intensity rarely exceeds F0 on the Fujita Pearson scale, which describes all wind intensities and their consequences. They rarely exceed 120 km/h . Their rotation originates from the lower layers of the ground and they do not depend on the presence of mesocyclones. Of course, they can be very dangerous for navigation. If you are interested in learning more about how to act in case of a severe waterspout, consult our article on how to act in case of a severe waterspout.
Some of the most impressive and spectacular waterspouts
The tallest waterspout on record occurred in Australia . On May 16, 1898, a waterspout reaching 1528 meters in length was observed . It occurred off the coast of Eden, in New South Wales. We don't have color photos of the event, much less videos. But we've included a video from Australia so you can get an idea of ​​the magnitude of the phenomenon.
Thick or occasionally thinner, they do not leave you indifferent.
Lake Maracaibo, Venezuela
One of the places in the world where waterspouts are most frequently recorded is Lake Maracaibo in Venezuela. Numerous records, photos, and videos of these phenomena can be found online. For more information on their frequency, you can consult our article about the biggest waterspout of the decade in Valencia.
The reason for the high frequency of waterspouts is due to the high temperatures the water reaches during the day, usually peaking in the afternoon. Sometimes these waterspouts even form in double or even triple formations. It's a truly exceptional phenomenon worldwide. If you'd like to see an amazing example, we recommend watching the video of a spectacular waterspout off the coast of Valencia.
As we said before, they do not usually cause as much damage as tornadoes, but if they go to the mainland, the damage will be much greater.
Finally, we leave you with a magnificent video from Italy, where you can see two waterspouts at the same time . It truly is one of the most spectacular phenomena. We can't say it enough!
