Waterspouts whip past Sydney (impressive photo)

A waterspout off Maroubra Beach in Sydney today.
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Spectacular waterspouts are forming along the Sydney coast, as severe thunderstorms close in.

"The waterspouts have formed in thunderstorms just off the coast," said meteorologist Brett Dutschke of The Weather Company, which is owned by Fairfax Media. "They happen almost every year, but sometimes they are too far off the coast to be spotted on land.

"But today there have been several seen close to the coast." While the spouts look like mini-tornadoes, they are not as destructive, Mr Dutschke said. "They can whip up fairly strong winds in a short space of time, but you have to be very close to them for that to happen. "They are certainly strong enough to knock boats around and they have been known to sink some boats."

Meteorologist Martin Palmer, also of The Weather Company, said a severe storm warning was issued and more spouts would most likely develop on the eastern horizon as the day draws to a close.

More: http://www.smh.com.au/environment/water-issues/waterspouts-whip-past-sydney-20100517-v8ci.html

Oddly enough, we almost never get tornadoes over land, even though the squall lines look more than potent enough to generate them.

I was hit by a water spout this winter and it was terrifying, but very fast. Fortunately no damage done, but I don't want to bet in the way of another one again.

:hi:

Cool video of one forming off Golata pier this year:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFxeMyUb_ps

hanging on to actually see it. It eventually made it's way over to the coast, where it lifted up and dropped a few catamarans.

Wild stuff.

It makes me so sad. I love the keys

and I loved seeing those damned waterspouts. Three together dancing around one another (like that tornado video this week).

These goddamn people (if you can call them that) are fucking our planet up forever.