Weather and Meteorology - Glossary
Included in this glossary you'll find terms related to our public forecasting program, weather observations and unique terminology that is of Environment Canada's hurricane centre and ice service products.
- Waterspout
A marine weather phenomenon consisting of a whirlwind, or vortex, revealed by the presence of a rotating cloud column or inverted cloud cone (funnel cloud), extending downward from the base of a Cumuliform cloud, with a halo of spray raised in the vicinity of where the base of vortex makes contact with the water surface. The diameter of a Waterspout may range from 7 m to 20 m, with wind speeds ranging from 40 to 80 km/h, or 22 to 43 knots. Waterspouts usually last for 10 minutes or less, and occur most frequently from mid-summer to mid-fall. They have a localized, rather than widespread, impact on the marine area over which they develop.
- Date Modified: