Waterspout

Current Context : At least one man died and six people are missing after a luxury yacht sank was hit by a violent storm off the coast of Sicily, Italy.

ABOUT WATER SPROUT

• A 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.
• Mostly forms in tropical and subtropical areas.

TWO TYPES OF WATER SPOUT

• “Fair weather” or “non-tornadic” waterspout : usually form along the dark flat base of a line of developing cumulus clouds.
• Classic tornado “tornadic”, “supercellular”, or “mesocyclonic” waterspout : form over water, or move from land to water.