Understanding Waterspouts: Nature’s Twisting Columns

A waterspout is like a mini tornado over the water, spinning rapidly in a narrow column beneath a thunderstorm. Dr. Peter Inness, a meteorologist from the University of Reading, explains that while many of these phenomena are harmless, some can bring strong winds and chaos.

These swirling columns only form when the atmosphere is just right, needing both heat and humidity. In the late summer and autumn months, the Mediterranean Sea is warm and ripe for thunderstorms, providing ideal conditions for waterspouts to pop up.

The Mediterranean, particularly around the Balearic Islands, is known to be a hotspot for these waterspouts. Research from scientists at the University of Barcelona indicates that warmer sea surfaces increase the chances of these occurrences. Currently, the waters around Sicily are about 2.5 to 3 degrees Celsius warmer than the average recorded from 1990 to 2020.

Most waterspouts are relatively weak and short-lived, resulting in a brief spell of gusty winds that usually cause little damage since they form over water. However, the more intense waterspouts can produce winds over 100 kilometers per hour, which can be dangerous for boats caught in their path due to rapidly changing wind directions.