'Impressive waterspout' spotted by residents near Destin

Cheryl McCloud, Northwest Florida Daily News
·2 min read
3

Multiple large waterspouts were spotted Tuesday morning off the Emerald Coast, and several people took to social media to share videos and photos.

Storms off Destin produced a large waterspout just offshore, according to the National Weather Service, Mobile. The storm seemed to be moving parallel to the coast off Miramar Beach.

The Weather Service cautioned boaters to use caution this morning since other storms could also produce waterspouts.

Tropics watch: Tropical wave in Caribbean has small chance for development as it moves toward Gulf of Mexico

Staying safe on the water: Ricketts: Boating is a fun activity, but serious injuries are all too common | Opinion

Larry Butler shared a photo he took of a waterspout he spotted in Destin.

Ken Creel shared a video of the Dustin waterspout.

Video shared by Krista Blanchard of the "impressive waterspout" is being retweeted this morning.

It isn't the first time a waterspout has been spotted off Destin. On Aug. 11, residents were able to capture images of another waterspout.

What is a waterspout?

Waterspouts are similar to tornadoes over water. There are two types of waterspouts: tornadic and fair weather.

Tornadic waterspouts are tornadoes that form over water, or move from land to water, according to the National Weather Service. They have the same characteristics as a land tornado. They are associated with severe thunderstorms, and are often accompanied by high winds and seas, large hail and frequent lightning.

Fair weather waterspouts are usually less dangerous. They're common over South Florida’s coastal waters from late spring to early fall. Typically, fair weather waterspouts dissipate rapidly when they make landfall, and rarely penetrate far inland.

If a waterspout moves onshore, the National Weather Service issues a tornado warning since some of them can cause significant damages and injuries to people.

This article originally appeared on Northwest Florida Daily News: Large waterspout spotted near Destin, Florida