JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Showers moving onshore from the Atlantic produced a waterspout near Vilano Beach and South Ponte Vedra in coastal St. Johns County, Florida Thursday.
Local emergency services, including St. Johns County Emergency Management, captured an image of the waterspout as it spun just offshore. The waterspout was spotted east of Vilano Beach moving slowly north along the coast.
With the onshore winds and a bit of low level shear, additional waterspouts are possible Thursday evening on the First Coast.
Understanding Waterspouts
Waterspouts are tornado-like phenomena that form over water, and there are two main types: tornadic waterspouts and fair-weather waterspouts. The one spotted near Vilano Beach falls under the fair-weather category, which typically forms during relatively calm conditions, unlike tornadic waterspouts, which are associated with severe thunderstorms.
Fair-weather waterspouts tend to form during light wind conditions, often along lines of developing showers, as was the case along the Atlantic coast. These waterspouts are generally less intense than their tornadic counterparts but can still be hazardous to boaters, swimmers, or anyone caught nearby. They usually dissipate quickly once they move onshore or the environmental conditions change.
