(Haipo) – On Saturday, waterspouts were observed off the coast of Haifa, in a spectacular natural phenomenon that unfolded before the eyes of residents. The phenomenon was documented in photos in which columns of water can be seen extending from the sea surface towards the heavy clouds that covered the sky above the Mediterranean Sea.
Water ripples – an impressive natural phenomenon above the sea surface
A waterspout, also known by its foreign name Waterspout, is a meteorological phenomenon in which a rotating column of air and water is formed above the sea surface, connecting the water surface with a cloud above it. It is actually a sea tornado – a wind vortex that forms over a body of water, which draws water droplets upward and creates a spectacular column visible from afar. Waterspouts are usually formed under conditions of atmospheric instability, when there is a significant temperature difference between the warm sea surface and the cold air at altitude. The phenomenon is common in the Mediterranean basin, especially during the transitional seasons and in winter, when stormy weather systems plague the region.
Danger to kitesurfers:
A waterspout, or "sea leaf" as it is called, whirls wind at its base at an enormous speed that may reach over 100 km/h. It also pulls the air upward. If a kitesurfer is caught in the rising air, the result could be fatal.
Spectacular documentation from Haifa
The photos taken from Haifa show an impressive sight of water vapor rising above the Mediterranean Sea, with the city's residential buildings in the background and a cloudy blue and gray sky above them. In the photos, you can see the columns of water extending upward from the sea surface and merging with the base of the heavy clouds. The phenomenon, observed off the coast of Haifa, is an extraordinary natural spectacle that attracts great attention from residents, and is documented from time to time along the Mediterranean coast of Israel during periods of stormy and unstable weather conditions.
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