How are tornadoes and waterspouts different?

Answer 1

There are two types of waterspout: tornadic waterspouts and "fair weather" waterspouts.

Tornadic waterspouts are normal tornadoes that form from supercells that happen to be on water.

However, most waterspouts are of the "fair weather" variety. These waterspouts are weaker than supercell tornadoes and they typically are associated with developing storms while normal tornadoes are produced by very strong mature thunderstorms. Their formation is more like that of dust devils.

They form when a line of developing storms or even cumulus clouds with strong convection move into an environment where the water is warmer than the air. The air just above the surface will be warm and naturally tend to rise. If there is weak rotation near the surface it can be taken up into this updraft and intensify. As this happens the ground level updraft becomes one with the higher-level updraft from the developing storm or cloud and the two joined updrafts enhance one another..

Answer 2

A waterspout is essentially a tornado on water.

However, there are 2 types of waterspout.

Type 1 waterspouts are the same as ordinary tornado, but on water. These are relatively rare, however.

Type 2 waterspouts are more common. Unlike normal tornadoes they usually form from a developing thunderstorm rather than a mature supercell and are usually weaker. A similar phenomenon, called a landspout, can occur on land but they are less common than type 1 tornadoes.

Answer 3

To start off, we must establish that there are two types of waterspout: fair-weather waterspouts and tornadic waterspouts. Tornadic waterspouts are ordinary tornadoes that just happen to develop or move out over water. Fair-weather waterspouts are a different phenomenon. This answer will address the differences between tornadoes and fair-weather waterspouts.

Similarities:

• Both tornadoes and waterspouts are small-scale vortices in which air-spirals upward.
• Both are usually short-lived.
• Both produce strong winds.
• Both have low pressure at their centers, which often leads to the formation of a condensation funnel.
• Both are associated with cumulonimbus or cumulus clouds.
• A waterspout that strikes land and causes damage is counted as a tornado.

Differences

• Tornadoes are generally stronger than waterspouts. Winds in waterspouts often range from 40 to 60 mph and usually do not exceed 70 mph. Winds in tornadoes may commonly range from 70 to 110 mph, with rare cases exceeding 300 mph.
• Tornadoes form from a larger-scale circulation called a mesocyclone within an intense thunderstorm. Waterspouts form from small-scale convection under a thunderstorm or even a cumulus cloud.
• Tornadoes can persist on both land and water relatively unhindered while waterspouts usually dissipate quickly if they hit land.
• Tornadoes are, on average, larger than waterspouts.
• Several waterspouts can sometimes occur at the same time within a small area. This is rare for tornadoes.
• Tornadoes sometimes exhibit a multiple vortex structure, which is not seen in waterspouts.

Answer 4

A waterspout is basically a tornado on water. It is a relatively small but intense whirlwind that develops from a storm. If a waterspout comes ashore and causes damage it is considered a tornado.

Answer 5

There are two types of waterspout: fair-weather waterspouts and tornadic waterspouts.

A tornadic waterspout is just an ordinary tornado that happens to be on a body of water. Most waterspouts, however, are of the fair-weather variety. Unlike true tornadoes, which develop from the rotating updraft of a severe thunderstorm, waterspouts develop from low-level convection over a body of water that is warmer than the air above it. They tend to form during showers and thunderstorms. Fair-weather waterspouts are not very strong compared to tornadoes; usually reaching only EF0 strength, but they can still be dangerous to boaters.

Answer 6

Both are small vorticies produce by large whether systems (by weather standards) that produce strong, circular winds.

A waterspout that makes landfall is usually considered a tornado.

Answer 7

Sometimes. Most waterspouts form by a different mechanism than typical tornadoes do, but sometimes an ordinary tornado occurs on water and so is considered a waterspout.

Answer 8

No. Waterspouts are generally not as dangerous as normal tornadoes. Waterspouts rarely exceed the intensity of an EF1 tornado and rarely hit land.