Massive water spout spotted off the coast of Sydney’s eastern suburb of South Coogee
An incredible waterspout is spotted off the coast of a major Australian city – huge oil tankers nearby appear to be completely dwarfed
- Huge water spout spotted off the coast of Sydney
- They are most common in fall and winter
- Can grow up to 100 meters in diameter
A huge tornado-like water has been spotted off the coast of Sydney, dwarfing two tankers cruising on the horizon.
The spout formed just offshore at South Coogee in Sydney’s eastern suburbs on Saturday as a storm approached the city’s outskirts.
Water spouts form when high winds move in opposite directions, pulling the air upward in a spiral column.
The rising air carries water vapor with it into the air, where it can cause showers and storms.
While usually harmless, water spouts can cause damage when they make landfall, destroying a dozen homes in Lennox Heads in 2010.
A huge tornado-like spout has been spotted off the coast of Sydney, dwarfing tankers (pictured) as a storm makes its way to land
A resident videotaped the waterspout and said, “Look at this.”
“A tornado waterspout, it looks like the boat behind it is going through (killing), but it’s not, it’s further out,” says the local resident.
Some of the larger water spouts have been measured to be up to 100 meters in diameter and last up to an hour.
However, most spouts have an average lifespan of about five to ten minutes and have a diameter of about 30 meters.
Water spouts are most common on Australia’s east coast during autumn and winter, as cold air from the land collides with the generally warmer air over the ocean.
Water spouts are most common along Australia’s east coast during autumn and winter when cold and warm air collide offshore, creating a spiral column of air that draws in water