"Waterspout" Natural Recordings by Native Speakers
A waterspout is a rotating column of water that forms over the ocean when a strong, thunderstorm cloud, called a cumulonimbus cloud, is present. Waterspouts are essentially the aquatic equivalent of tornadoes, and they typically form when rising columns of warm, moist air interact with the cooler atmospheric conditions near the top of the cloud.
The rotation of the waterspout occurs due to the Coriolis effect, which causes rotating air masses to develop in conjunction with the intensification of the thunderstorm. The rotating column of water can extend from the base of the cloud to the surface of the ocean, creating a swirling effect that can reach speeds of up to 150 km/h (93 mph).
Waterspouts can be classified into two main categories: those that form in association with a parent thunderstorm, known as composite waterspouts, and those that form independently of any thunderstorm, known as standalone waterspouts.