{"id":258804,"date":"2026-08-04T06:14:56","date_gmt":"2026-08-04T06:14:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/258804\/"},"modified":"2026-08-04T06:14:56","modified_gmt":"2026-08-04T06:14:56","slug":"waterspouts-spotted-on-lake-erie-what-they-are-how-they-form-why-they-matter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/258804\/","title":{"rendered":"Waterspouts spotted on Lake Erie: What they are, how they form, why they matter"},"content":{"rendered":"

Waterspouts may look like tornadoes over the water, but not all of them form the same way. Here’s how they develop and how you can stay safe.<\/p>\n

PORT CLINTON, Ohio \u2014 A waterspout spotted over Lake Erie on Sunday caught the attention of many across northwest Ohio. While waterspouts aren’t observed every day, they aren’t uncommon on the Great Lakes during the warmer months.<\/p>\n

A waterspout is a rotating column of air that forms over water and often appears as a funnel extending from a cloud toward the lake’s surface. When the circulation reaches the water, it can create a visible spray ring or swirling mist, making the waterspout easier to spot from shore.<\/p>\n


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\n This story continues below. <\/p>\n

How do waterspouts form? <\/p>\n

There are two types of waterspouts.<\/p>\n

The most common on the Great Lakes is known as a fair-weather waterspout. Despite the name, these waterspouts don’t always develop under perfectly sunny skies. Instead, they typically form beneath developing cumulus clouds when the atmosphere is unstable, winds are relatively light and warm lake water helps rising air begin to rotate. They are generally weaker than tornadoes but can still produce strong winds capable of overturning small boats.<\/p>\n

The second type is a tornadic waterspout. These form when a tornado develops from a severe thunderstorm over water or when a tornado that formed on land moves onto a lake. Tornadic waterspouts are usually much stronger and carry the same dangers as tornadoes on land.<\/p>\n

On Sunday, Lake Erie water temperatures were near 78 degrees, with air temperatures several hundred feet off the ground near 60 degrees. As a result of sinking cooler air and warmer air over the water, this created a thermal circulation, allowing for some spin to develop.<\/p>\n

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\nCan waterspouts move onto land? <\/p>\n

While many waterspouts weaken before reaching shore, some can move inland. If that happens, they are treated as tornadoes because they can produce damaging winds and pose a threat to people and property. If a waterspout is expected to move on land, the National Weather Service will issue appropriate warnings to alert the public.<\/p>\n


\nAre waterspouts dangerous? <\/p>\n

Although many waterspouts are relatively weak, they can still be hazardous.<\/p>\n

Boaters are at the greatest risk because waterspouts can produce:<\/p>\n

Stronger windsSudden increase in wave heightsHeavy rainFrequent lightning, if the waterspout is associated with thunderstormsSudden reductions in visibility <\/p>\n

Even a weaker waterspout can make boating dangerous, especially for smaller vessels.<\/p>\n

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\nHow to stay safe <\/p>\n

If you see a waterspout while you’re on Lake Erie or another body of water, don’t try to get closer for a better view.<\/p>\n

Move away from the waterspout immediately if you’re on a boat.Head toward the nearest safe harbor if conditions allow.Keep a close eye on the weather forecast before heading onto the lake.If thunderstorms are nearby, leave the water and seek shelter in a sturdy building. <\/p>\n

If you observe a waterspout while on shore, be aware of future weather conditions. In some instances, these can move ashore, temporarily causing damage.<\/p>\n


\nWhen are waterspouts most common? <\/p>\n

Waterspouts are most common from late spring through early fall, when lake temperatures are warmer and the atmosphere becomes more unstable.<\/p>\n

Because Lake Erie provides a ready source of moisture, the Great Lakes can occasionally produce waterspouts when warm, humid air interacts with cooler air higher in the atmosphere.<\/p>\n

While Sunday’s waterspout made for incredible photos and videos, it’s also a reminder that the Great Lakes can produce fascinating and sometimes dangerous weather. Whether you’re boating, fishing, or spending the day at the beach, staying aware of changing weather conditions is the best way to stay safe.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Waterspouts may look like tornadoes over the water, but not all of them form the same way. Here’s…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":258805,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[136,138,137],"class_list":["post-258804","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-erie","tag-erie","tag-erie-headlines","tag-erie-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/258804","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=258804"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/258804\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/258805"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=258804"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=258804"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=258804"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}