According to the American Meteorological Society, “waterspouts occur most frequently in the subtropics during the warm season; more are reported in the lower Florida Keys than in any other place in the world. Funnel diameters range from a few up to 100 m or more; lifetimes average 5-10 minutes, but large waterspouts can persist for up to one hour.” Continue reading for a video and more information.

The spouts don’t usually last long (often just five to 10 minutes), but can do some serious damage while they’re on the ground.

Floridian Joey Mole caught this photo, along with a video you can check out. There’s some cursing, but less than you’d expect considering how scary that thing is. Here’s a look from someone who was actually on the water when the spout struck.

[Sources 1 | 2]

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