What's A Fair Weather Waterspout?

news image
Top Stories
5 May 2018 8:54 PM
A waterspout was reported late Saturday afternoon near Key West, Florida. According to the National Weather Service in Key West, there were reports that it was very thin but caused damage to a dock and even a few boats at the Key West Sailing Center on Garrison Bight. However, this waterspout was not associated with a severe thunderstorm like others we've mentioned before. This kind of whirlwind is what we call a fair weather waterspout. Fair weather waterspouts happen underneath a line of cumulus clouds and typically occur when it's very humid and the water is fairly warm. The atmosphere becomes unstable and there is a convergence of air at the lower levels, which creates a spin. As this "spin" rises up, the column of air creates a waterspout from the water up into the sky (and usually one that is on the weaker side but can still be dangerous to boaters and cause damage). CLICK HERE to learn more about the different types of whirlwinds! For WeatherNation, I'm Meteorologist Meredith Garofalo  
All Weather News
More
Storms Slide Down the Plains

Storms Slide Down the Plains

CENTRAL U.S - A trough that came in from the

18 Sep 2025 8:25 PM
Gabrielle Churns in the Atlantic, Another Tropical Wave Emerges

Gabrielle Churns in the Atlantic, Another Tropical Wave Emerges

We are now a week after the climatological pe

18 Sep 2025 8:10 PM
More Activity Churning in the Eastern Pacific

More Activity Churning in the Eastern Pacific

Out in the Eastern Pacific, a broad area of l

18 Sep 2025 8:05 PM
Mario Sends Tropical Moisture to California, Flooding Possible

Mario Sends Tropical Moisture to California, Flooding Possible

Though Eastern Pacific tropical system Mario

18 Sep 2025 8:00 PM
Florida Rainfall: Nuisance or Beneficial?

Florida Rainfall: Nuisance or Beneficial?

The dry time has been a little hard to enjoy

18 Sep 2025 8:00 PM
Fall Color Starting To Show in Parts of the Lower 48

Fall Color Starting To Show in Parts of the Lower 48

Grab the pumpkin spice and apple cider donuts

18 Sep 2025 7:30 PM
Northern Lights Close Out the Weekend For Many

Northern Lights Close Out the Weekend For Many

Did you see them? Many might have had better

15 Sep 2025 10:30 PM