Waterspout spotted off Antigua

Many persons were left in awe on Wednesday after a waterspout was sighted offshore north of Antigua.  

While it was a spectacular event to witness, the weather phenomenon prompted the island’s meteorological service to issue a waterspout warning for the northern waters of Antigua which expired yesterday afternoon.

The Antigua and Barbuda Meteorological Service explained that unstable weather conditions resulted in waterspouts, which were observed offshore of Hodges Bay.  

It said a waterspout warning meant that a waterspout was detected by radar or sighted by a credible source. The warning is usually issued for a duration of 30 minutes. 

The met service cautioned the public that if they spot a waterspout, to exercise extreme caution and keep a distance or get out of the area by immediately heading at a 90-degree angle from the waterspout.  

It said persons should never try to navigate through a waterspout as although waterspouts are usually weaker than tornadoes, they can still cause significant damage.  

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), waterspout is a whirling column of air and water mist.  

The NOAA says waterspouts fall into two categories; fair weather waterspouts and tornadic waterspouts. 

The NOAA explains tornadic waterspouts are tornadoes that form over water, or move from land to water. Fair weather waterspouts usually form along the dark flat base of a line of developing cumulus clouds.  While tornadic waterspouts develop downward in a thunderstorm, a fair weather waterspout develops on the surface of the water and works its way upward.