Joshua Nørregaard spotted the giant waterspout near San Luis Pass Bridge on Monday morning.   Joshua Nørregaard
© Joshua NørregaardJoshua Nørregaard spotted the giant waterspout near San Luis Pass Bridge on Monday morning.
Gigantic, whirling columns of air and water mist were spotted off the coast near Galveston on Monday morning, alarming some Texas beachgoers.

The waterspouts, as they are officially called, could be seen from San Luis Pass Bridge and Freeport.

While local residents said the eerie columns of rotating air are not uncommon, Joan O'Connell, who spotted the giant waterspout from Pointe West Bayside, said it's the largest waterspout she's ever seen.