Florida Waterspouts: What They Are and What to Do

I shot the above photo on the way home from a 5-day spearfishing trip to the Dry Tortugas. This was a particularly good one, a triple waterspout! The boat was rockin’ and a rollin’ all the way home!

A Florida waterspout is a rotating column of air over water. It often looks like a funnel stretching between a cloud and the water’s surface.

In Florida, waterspouts are fairly common, especially near the Gulf of Mexico, the Atlantic coast, the Florida Keys, bays, and large lakes. Most Florida waterspouts are fair-weather waterspouts, which are usually weaker and shorter-lived than the powerful tornadoes people often picture from the Great Plains.

That said, “weaker” does not mean “safe.”

Are there different kinds of waterspouts?

Yes. There are two main types.

Fair-weather waterspouts

These are the most common types in Florida. They usually form under developing cumulus clouds during warm, humid, light-wind conditions.

Fair-weather waterspouts often begin near the water surface and build upward toward the cloud. They may move very little and usually do not last long. Most stay over water and dissipate before causing serious damage.

Tornadic waterspouts

A tornadic waterspout is basically a tornado over water. It forms from a stronger thunderstorm, or when a tornado moves from land onto water.

These are more dangerous because they can be associated with severe weather, including damaging winds, hail, lightning, and fast movement.

Are waterspouts common in Florida?

Yes. Florida is one of the more waterspout-prone places in the United States, and the Florida Keys are considered one of the top waterspout areas in the world.

They are most common during warm-season weather patterns, when warm water, humid air, sea-breeze boundaries, and developing showers or thunderstorms come together.

Do waterspouts cause a lot of property damage?

Usually, no. Most Florida waterspouts stay over water, are brief, and fall apart before causing major damage.

But they can still cause problems, especially if they move close to shore or come onto land. A waterspout can damage boats, docks, marina equipment, beach structures, roofs, patio furniture, pool cages, screens, and lightweight or mobile structures.

If a waterspout moves ashore, the National Weather Service may treat it like a tornado threat and issue a Tornado Warning.

Is a waterspout less dangerous than a tornado?

A typical Florida fair-weather waterspout is usually smaller, weaker, and less destructive than a strong land tornado.

But it can still be dangerous, especially for boaters, swimmers, paddleboarders, kayakers, people on piers, and anyone on the beach or near the water.

The safest approach is simple:

Over water, treat a waterspout like a serious marine hazard. If it moves toward land, treat it like a tornado.

What should boaters do if they see a waterspout?

Do not try to pass through it or get close for photos or video.

If you are on a boat, move away from the waterspout at a 90-degree angle from its apparent path. If possible, head to safe harbor. Keep an eye on the sky, listen for marine weather alerts, and remember that conditions can change quickly around developing storms.

What should homeowners and beachgoers do?

If a waterspout is offshore but moving away, keep monitoring it from a safe place.

If it appears to be moving toward land, get inside a sturdy building. Stay away from windows, secure loose outdoor items if there is time, and follow any warnings from the National Weather Service or local emergency officials.

Do not stand on a dock, pier, seawall, balcony, or beach to watch it approach.

Bottom line

Most Florida waterspouts are brief and not highly destructive, but they should always be taken seriously.

For boaters, they are a real marine hazard. For waterfront homeowners and beachgoers, the main concern is whether the waterspout moves toward shore. If it does, treat it like a tornado and get to a safe place.