Times of the Islands Spring 2020

eye on the sky
Opposite page: Waterspouts form rather infrequently under general thunderstorms over the open ocean.
Above: In the Turks & Caicos Islands, spotting waterspouts has been a bit more common over the last several years.
Nature’s Ephemeral Vortex
The spin on waterspouts.
By Paul Wilkerson ~ Photos By Marta Morton, www.harbourclubvillas.com
Waterspouts have been occurring for as long as memories have been recorded. On August 19, 1896 a
waterspout developed over Vineyard Sound near Cottage City, Massachusetts. While at the time, it was
rare for these to be seen from land, especially in the Northeast, mariners often saw these twisting clouds
over the open waters of the Atlantic. These sailors would return with their stories, and often regaled locals
about their close encounters with this strange phenomenon.
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