Waterspout is a tornado that occurs over a lake or ocean. A waterspout begins when a center of low air pressure develops, causing winds to whirl. A thick, black, rotating cloud forms, with a rotating column of air extending beneath the cloud to the water’s surface. The air column becomes visible as water vapor in the atmosphere condenses in the column and surface water is drawn up at the column’s base.
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Most waterspouts measure from about 20 to 200 feet (6 to 60 meters) in diameter. They are usually associated with strong winds and can cause severe damage. Most waterspouts occur in the tropics. Most whirl counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere.
