Tarun Karthick
Port Blair, 25 August 2024
A stunning fair weather waterspout was observed near Campbell Bay in Great Nicobar Island this morning, captivating onlookers at around 10:40 AM. The waterspout, estimated to be about 6-7 kilometres south of the breakwater at Campbell Bay, provided a rare spectacle for the local community.
A waterspout is a rotating column of air that forms over a body of water, typically appearing as a funnel-shaped cloud in contact with both the water and a cloud above. Waterspouts are classified into two types: fair weather (non-tornadic) waterspouts and tornadic waterspouts. The former is more common and less intense, forming through a distinct five-part life cycle: the appearance of a dark spot on the water surface, the development of a spiral pattern, the formation of a spray ring, the emergence of a visible condensation funnel, and finally, the dissipation of the vortex. Most waterspouts, despite their dramatic appearance, do not actually suck up water.
While waterspouts are not uncommon in tropical and subtropical regions, they are rarely spotted so close to inhabited areas in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Today’s sighting near Campbell Bay offered a unique and awe-inspiring experience for those fortunate enough to witness it.
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