Waterspout - Wikipedia
WEBA waterspout is a rotating column of air that occurs over a body of water, usually appearing as a funnel-shaped cloud in contact with the water and a cumuliform cloud. [ 1 ] [ 2 ] There are two types of waterspout, each formed by distinct mechanisms.
What is a waterspout? - NOAA's National Ocean Service
WEBJun 16, 2024 · A waterspout is a whirling column of air and water mist. According to NOAA's National Weather Service, the best way to avoid a waterspout is to move at a 90-degree angle to its apparent movement. Never move closer to investigate a waterspout. Some can be just as dangerous as tornadoes.
What are waterspouts, and how do they form? - EarthSky
WEBApr 26, 2024 · A waterspout is just a tornado that forms over open water. A tornado over an ocean, lake – or even a river – is considered to be a waterspout. Waterspouts are typically weaker than...
What are waterspouts, and how do they form? An expert explains
WEBMay 6, 2021 · What is a waterspout? A waterspout is a spinning column of air that sucks up water (usually from the ocean) to make a twisting funnel of water and cloud connecting the sea and the sky.
Waterspout - National Geographic Society
WEBOct 19, 2023 · noun. movement of air (from a high pressure zone to a low pressure zone) caused by the uneven heating of the Earth by the sun. A waterspout is a column of rotating, cloud-filled wind. A waterspout descends from a cumulus cloud to an ocean or a lake.
What are waterspouts and how do they form? - YouTube
WEBJul 13, 2016 · What are waterspouts and how do they form? This video from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration explains the eerie columns of rotating air and mist over warm tropical waters....
What Is a Waterspout? - Wonderopolis
WEBWhen a whirlwind happens over water, it is called a waterspout. Whirlwinds can also happen with dust, to create a dust devil, or with fire, to cause a firestorm. There are even “snowspouts” and “haywhirls.”. Many things can combine with wind and the right weather conditions to make whirlwinds.
Waterspouts | Ocean Today - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
WEBThese eerie columns of rotating air are known as waterspouts — commonly defined as tornadoes over water. Waterspouts usually develop over warm tropical ocean waters. They're spotted in the Florida Keys more than any other place in the world. They've also been seen over the waters of the Great Lakes.
Waterspout | Meteorology, Tornadic Activity & Formation
WEBSep 7, 2024 · waterspout, a small-diameter column of rapidly swirling air in contact with a water surface. Waterspouts are almost always produced by a swiftly growing cumulus cloud. They may assume many shapes and often occur in a series, called a waterspout family, produced by the same upward-moving air current.
Waterspouts - American Oceans
WEBA waterspout is a rotating column of air over water that is connected to a cumulus cloud. They are similar to tornadoes, but they form over water instead of land. Waterspouts can be classified into two types: tornadic waterspouts and fair-weather waterspouts.