A waterspout spotted off of Torrey Pines
© @pittsburghsteezA waterspout spotted off of Torrey Pines
A waterspout was seen by San Diegans over Torrey Pines Tuesday afternoon.

According to NOAA's National Weather Service, waterspouts fall into two categories: fair weather waterspouts and tornadic waterspouts.

Typically, fair weather waterspouts dissipate rapidly when they make landfall, and rarely penetrate far inland.

Tornadic waterspouts are tornadoes that form over water, or move from land to water. They have the same characteristics as a land tornado, according to the NOAA's National Weather Service.