The wonders of a waterspout: Here’s what you need to know

Imagine this: It’s raining heavily and there is a shower of fish on your roof. Yes, you read that right and it’s not a scene from a fantasy movie. There are some unusual climatic conditions that result in fish rain. This atmospheric phenomenon is known as waterspout.  

Waterspouts are close cousins of whirlwinds or tornadoes. Ever heard of one? Well, as the name suggests, this is like a spout of water, formed over ocean surfaces in warm and tropical regions. You might not be aware of a waterspout as they are usually non-threatening, and are rarely visible by the shore. However, they are more common than you think. Some places where waterspouts occur commonly are Florida and the Cienfuegos Bay of Cuba.   

One of the earliest documented occurrences of a waterspout was in 1555. At the Grand Harbour of Valletta, Malta, a deadly waterspout took the lives of hundreds of people. It sunk several boats and four galleys. As you can see, they have been around for centuries! Here is a low-down on this natural climatic phenomenon. 

The anatomy of a waterspout 
A waterspout is a rotating column of air and water droplets. A wind force that changes direction as it goes higher, creates a vertical funnel known as a waterspout. It can look like a narrow tornado, ranging a few feet in width and a few to several hundred feet in height. Waterspouts are mostly formed as narrow structures, but in some cases, they can become enormous. The water inside a waterspout is not sea water as you might think. Instead, a waterspout is a spray of cloud water! As the clouds gather, the water droplets condense to form a swirling mass.  

The life cycle of a waterspout 
Waterspouts have a life cycle of five stages. The first stage is a dark spot or light-coloured disc appearing on the sea surface. Following this, a spiral pattern begins from the water surface. This forms a cascade-like structure around the dark spot. When it nears maturity, the waterspout becomes visible on the sea surface, continuously moving upwards towards the sky. Finally, the waterspout starts decaying when warm air starts flowing into the vortex.  

How does it impact lives?  

• Sometimes, the wind speed of a waterspout can become so strong that it can lift seawater into the air. Therefore, it is possible that a waterspout could carry sea salt, fish and seaweeds into the air. This is the reason behind fish rain, saltwater rain and seaweed rain! So, now you know, that fish rain has a scientific explanation! 
• Another dangerous aspect of waterspout is that it can even lift humans, animals, sand and small boats into the air. It threatens lives on boats and small ships as it could lead to drowning.  
• A waterspout can also put nearby planes and helicopters in danger. This is because they can be thrown off the path because of strong wind force.