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Cozumel, Mexico

Latitude: 20° 28' 45'' N

Longitude: 86° 58' 29'' W

23 October 2013 1149 (Local Time)

Image P/S code: P.11.5.2

Image I.D.: 5436

Waterspout
This photograph shows a waterspout that occurred off the west coast of Cozumel, Mexico.

A waterspout is a tornado occurring over water. It is normally a relatively small, weak rotating column of air over open water beneath a Cumulonimbus or towering Cumulus cloud. Waterspouts are essentially the water-based equivalent of landspouts and are most common over tropical or subtropical waters.

On the right of the picture, precipitation can be seen falling from the convective cloud.
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© Steve Billings
Cozumel, Mexico
Latitude: 20° 28' 45'' N
Longitude: 86° 58' 29'' W
23 October 2013 1149 (Local Time)

Image P/S code: P.11.5.2
Image I.D.: 5436
Waterspout
This photograph shows a waterspout viewed off the coast from Port Macquarie, New South Wales, Australia. On the right of the picture, a shower of precipitation can be seen falling from the convective cloud.

A waterspout is a tornado occurring over water. It is essentially the water-based equivalent of a landspout. It is normally a relatively small, weak rotating column of air beneath a Cumulonimbus or towering Cumulus cloud. Waterspouts are most common over tropical or subtropical waters.
Links in the image description will highlight features on the image. Mouse over the features for more detail.
© Mark Foster
Port Macquarie, New South Wales, Australia
Latitude: 31° 27' 56'' S
Longitude: 152° 56' 2'' E
04 April 2007 1432 (Local Time)

Camera direction: towards E
Image P/S code: S.11.5.2
Image I.D.: 5435
Waterspouts
A waterspout is a type of spout or tornado that occurs over water. It is normally a relatively small, weak rotating column of air (a whirlwind or vortex) over open water beneath cumuliform cloud.

Waterspouts are essentially the water-based equivalent of landspouts. Sometimes several vortices can occur together, as shown in this picture from Cetraro, Italy. The rotating spouts consist of a condensation funnel in contact with the water and of a “bush” composed of water droplets raised from the surface of the sea.
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© Francesco Pepe
Cetraro, Province of Cosenza, Italy
Latitude: 39° 30' 58'' N
Longitude: 15° 56' 28'' E
01 October 2010 1701 (Local Time)

Image P/S code: S.11.5.2
Image I.D.: 5440
Weak spout under a line of Cumulus congestus
As is characteristic of Florida Keys spouts, the tuba as seen in this photograph extends only about one-third of the way from the parent cloud base to the sea below, and exhibits a hollow core. The spout is most intense just above the warm sea surface (28-30°C), where a "bush" of sea-water droplets rises in helical fashion. A trailing wake is left on the sea surface behind the "bush" as it moves to the right of the picture (westwards), largely in response to the outflow of cooler air from the shower in the background.

The parent Cumulus congestus cloud line was orientated E-W in a light, undisturbed easterly trade-wind flow.
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© J.H. Golden
Above the Marquesas Keys, Florida, United States of America (450 m)
Latitude: 24° 34' 31'' N
Longitude: 82° 6' 12'' W
30 June 1969 1725 (Local Time)

Camera direction: towards SE
C_L = /, C_M = /, C_H = /

Waterspout

Waterspout

Waterspouts

Weak spout under a line of Cumulus congestus