Waterspout Spotted in⁢ Victoria Harbor: A‌ Rare Phenomenon

A waterspout appeared in ‍the waters⁤ of Victoria Harbor⁤ around 12:30 noon, captivating the attention of netizens who filmed footage of the rare phenomenon. The waterspout rose halfway up and then disappeared, with some people filming it at the northern corner of ⁤the Eastern District Corridor and others capturing its approach‍ to the shore of Tai Wan Shan Swimming Pool​ in⁢ Hung Hom.

The sea water rolled into a columnar shape and floated ‌in mid-air, turning for about 2 minutes.⁢ Netizens photographed the waterspout, sharing ⁤their experiences on social media.

The Observatory ⁤stated that this is the first time in ‌65 ⁤years, ‌since reports of waterspouts began to be received in 1959,‌ that a waterspout has been reported in Victoria Harbor.

What is a Waterspout?

A waterspout is a rapidly rotating cloud‍ column⁣ mixed with‌ water droplets,‌ connected to ⁣the water surface by the base of the convective cloud. Waterspouts generally have lower wind speeds than⁣ tornadoes on land. Because waterspouts‌ can sometimes suck ⁢up water, they are also commonly known ​as “dragons sucking water.”

Types of Waterspouts

The Observatory stated that waterspouts can be divided into two types. The⁣ first type originates from the downdrafts of convective clouds ‍and spreads outward over the sea. These “cold ⁣outflows” converge and then encounter warm sea surfaces, which is conducive to‍ the formation of waterspouts.

The formation mechanism and characteristics of⁢ the second type of waterspout are the same as⁢ those of tornadoes on land. They are usually related to violent thunderstorms and develop​ from top to bottom.⁢ In the ⁣initial stage,​ a funnel cloud⁤ will appear first, and‌ then gradually extend to the ground or sea surface.