Waterspout forms off Taiwan coast, linked to Typhoon Bailu

A waterspout formed off the coast of Tamsui, Taiwan, on Saturday afternoon, causing localized damage and captivating onlookers.

The phenomenon, which lasted for approximately 30 minutes, was confirmed by the Central Weather Administration as a "hook echo" cloud formation, capable of producing severe weather like tornadoes. Surveillance cameras captured the waterspout as it moved from offshore towards the land.

According to Wu Wan-hua, deputy director of the Weather Forecast Center, the waterspout appeared around 1:30 p.m. and dissipated by 2 p.m. She explained that the unstable environment and strong air currents associated with Typhoon Bailu contributed to its formation. The process involves ground-level horizontal wind shear being stretched into vertical rotation by strong convection, which then intensifies.

“

At 1:30 p.m. today, radar echoes captured a hook echo cloud formation off the coast of Tamsui, which moved towards Tamsui and lasted until 2 p.m., for a total of 30 minutes.

Wu clarified that if this rotating column of air remains in the sky without touching the ground, it is called a funnel cloud. When it makes contact with the ground, it becomes a tornado. If it occurs over water, it is known as a waterspout. The occurrence of a land-based tornado in Tamsui, driven by the outer circulation of Typhoon Bailu, is not considered rare.

The "hook echo" is a meteorological term for a towering cumulonimbus cloud that can spawn tornadoes or funnel clouds, often exhibiting a hook-like shape on weather radar. The waterspout's path was tracked moving from the sea towards Tamsui.

“

The occurrence of a land-based tornado in Tamsui, driven by the outer circulation of Typhoon Bailu, is not considered rare.