Tornadic waterspout illuminated by lightning storm captured over Adriatic Sea

Strange sounds
Fri, 12 Aug 2016 06:25 UTC

© Olivier Staiger

While seeking Perseid meteors, Olivier Staiger found tornadic waterspout! This incredible night thunderstorm was captured east of Cattolica, Italy off the Adriatic Sea on August 10, 2016.

Olivier Staiger explains: Wednesday, August 10th, 2016, I drove about 700km in the afternoon from Switzerland to Italy to chase a rare potential situation for waterspouts with Perseid meteors in the Adriatic Sea.

He then spent 5 hours patiently observing the line of showers and storms that slowly cranked up north and east of Cattolica, seeing several Perseids every now and then above the clouds and/or in other directions.

© Olivier Staiger

Finally at 03.43 AM August 11th local time BRIGHT lightning briefly revealed a large waterspout under a storm to the north out at sea.

It was visible for a few minutes and only when occasional lightning illuminated the dark scene.

Tornadic waterspouts are tornadoes that form over water, or move from land to water.

They have the same characteristics as a land tornado.

These waterspouts are associated with severe thunderstorms, and are often accompanied by high winds and seas, large hail, and frequent dangerous lightning.