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When tornado’s strike over sea they are know as Waterspouts. The Florida Keys see the largest number of waterspouts per year with as many as 400 to 500 in a given season. In this video, captured last May, a rather large waterspout collides with a number of ships off the cost of Singapore.

Are waterspouts dangerous to ships?

A waterspout has a cloudy tube descending to the sea-surface. The sharp decrease in air-pressure inside the tube of a waterspout also explains why suction occurs when one is present. For this reason, as soon as the tube of a waterspout breaks contact with the sea-surface, all of the water being carried is dumped, falling to earth. A waterspout is capable of lifting and carrying particles of sand, water, stones, live sea creatures, and sometimes, people, roofs of houses, etc. All of these can be carried long distances. Waterspouts often cause some destruction at coastal beaches, frequently killing people. If a vessel at sea encounters a waterspout, it is a dangerous situation. oceansatlas.com

Cool Links

• Robin Storm: Waterspouts and Ships!

• MajorlyCool.com: Attack of the Waterspouts
• usaToday.com: General information on Waterspouts
• YouTube.com: Tornado At Sea
• NOAA: Waterspout Photo Library

Robin Storm points us to this photo of this spectacular waterspout off New Zealand’s Kapiti Coast. Be sure to check out the photo slideshow and article and stay tuned for Robin’s upcoming Severe Weather segment on our podcast.

Here is video via Stuff.nz:

 

 Waterspout - Twister At Sea [1:45m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download