Explainer | All you need to know about waterspouts after rare sighting in Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour
A waterspout was seen in Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour for the first time since records began in 1959, so what caused the phenomenon?
The rare sight wowed witnesses, including dozens of parents and children at an outdoor swimming pool in Hung Hom near where the waterspout was believed to have landed. Social media platforms were awash with photos and videos of the waterspout.
The Post takes a look at the phenomenon.
1. What is a waterspout?
The weather phenomenon is characterised by a rotating column of water and air that forms over a body of water. Its Chinese name is “dragon sucking water”.
Typically associated with a funnel-shaped cloud, waterspouts form mostly in warm, humid conditions and usually occur in coastal areas or over lakes.
While they may look like tornadoes, waterspouts are generally less intense and possess different characteristics. They can form either as a tornadic waterspout, which develops from a supercell thunderstorm, or more common fair-weather waterspout, which forms in calm conditions without severe storms.
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Waterspout spotted over Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour
2. How are they formed?
