Waterspout forms over Lake Huron, near Mackinac Bridge

A waterspout was spotted on Lake Huron near the Mackinac Bridge and Mackinac Island on Tuesday, prompting a weather alert and many bystanders to post photos and videos to social media.

Mackinac County Emergency Management issued a dispatch alerting residents to a thunderstorm producing waterspouts near Mackinac Island late Tuesday morning, and urged boats in the area to seek safe harbor.

Pictures on social media showed a large waterspout forming by the north anchor pier of the Mackinac Bridge. Per the Mack County Emergency Management's report at 11:24 a.m., the waterspout was moving southeast at 10 knots.

No damage or injuries have been reported so far. Data from AccuWeather radar showed the skies clearing for the most part over Mackinac Island by 3 p.m., following a spate of showers moving east.

The Facebook page Straits Area Scanner, which calls itself a "modern-day Neighborhood Watch" group, posted an update and photo.

Per the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association, waterspouts can take two forms. Tornadic waterspouts form over water or move from land to water, accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning and severe winds. Fair weather waterspouts, on the other hand, form upward from the water in light wind conditions along a line of developing cumulus clouds. They move very little.

According to the International Center for Waterspout Research, over 550 waterspouts have been spotted worldwide this year, including five in the Great Lakes. The U.S. leads the list of countries reporting sightings.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Waterspout forms over Lake Huron, near Mackinac Bridge