Us Official Photographs

Waterspouts in cloud

A close view of one of the twin waterspouts which helps to dispel the belief that "spouts" are solid columns of water. Actually, they are rotating columns of cloud. Spray at the base of the column obscures the point where the waterspout touches the sea, and indicates that the destructive area of wind is about 500 feet in diameter. This waterspout is rising into a cloud approximately five miles deep.