A waterspout over 1,000 meters high moved over the sea, sweeping away some boats and fishing vessels before reaching the shore in Vạn Hưng commune, Vạn Ninh district, on the afternoon of May 22.
A waterspout over 1,000 meters appears at sea.
At around 3:30 PM, dark clouds gathered and strong winds blew in Vạn Hưng commune. During the storm, a waterspout over 1,000 meters tall appeared about 500 meters off the coast. “The waterspout moved quickly, in about 3-4 minutes, causing some boats to capsize and get damaged before gradually moving toward the shore and disappearing,” said Thúy Diễm, a local resident.
According to local people, a waterspout had appeared in this area two years ago, but at that time, it only moved and dissipated out at sea.
Mr. Trần Trung Thông, Vice Chairman of the Vạn Hưng People’s Committee, stated that when the waterspout moved, the tide was receding in the nearshore area of Vạn Hưng. The winds from the waterspout shook many boats, but not much water entered the vessels. “Fortunately, this natural phenomenon did not cause any harm to people,” Mr. Thông said.
The waterspout appeared in the waters of Vạn Ninh district, Khánh Hòa. (Video: Thúy Diễm)
According to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, Khánh Hòa has experienced rainy weather for several days. The southwest winds were at levels 2-3, and during storms, there was a possibility of whirlwinds, lightning, hail, and strong gusts; specifically, tornadoes could occur in coastal areas.
A waterspout is a phenomenon of violently rotating winds within a very small area, drawing moisture from the surface up to cumulonimbus clouds (thick water clouds), forming a funnel-shaped movement resembling a hose. Most waterspouts form from thunderstorm clouds, especially electrically charged storm clouds. A thunderstorm can last for several hours, swirling in an area with a diameter of 10-16 km, traveling hundreds of kilometers, and generating numerous massive waterspouts.
As it moves, a waterspout can lift or destroy everything in its path. From a distance, a waterspout appears black or white, depending on what it has picked up.
