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Typical waterspouts form by a different mechanism from tornadoes. Most tornadoes are produced by the mesocyclone of a supercell, the most powerful type of thunderstorm on earth. By contrast most waterspouts form during non-severe thunderstorms, and can even form from large cumulus clouds. So the reason they are not as strong is simply because they don't have a very strong power source compared with tornadoes.
However, sometimes a tornado produced by a supercell either forms on or moves out over water. In such a case it is called a tornadic waterspout.
What else can I help you with?
Do winds in waterspouts spin faster than those in tornadoes?
No. They are usually slower.
Which is more dangerous tornadoes or waterspouts?
Tornadoes are generally more dangerous as they are stronger than waterspouts.
Are waterspouts larger than tornadoes?
No. Waterspouts are generally smaller than most tornadoes. Though a few are in the same size range that tornadoes typically fall into.
Is a water tornado stronger than a land tornado?
"Water tornadoes," which are called waterspouts, are divided into two categories. Fair-weather waterspouts, are structured differently and generally weaker than classic tornadoes. Tornadic waterspouts are ordinary tornadoes that happen to be on water, they are just as strong as ordinary tornadoes.
How many categories does a waterspout have?
There are no categories for waterspouts specifically. However, waterspouts that hit land are counted as tornadoes. Tornadoes are rated on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which has six levels from EF0 to EF5. Very few waterspouts are stronger than EF1.
Why do waterspouts wedge tornadoes and rope tornadoes different from tornadoes?
"Rope" and "wedge" are just terms to describe the appearance of a tornado; they are not distinct phenomena. A rope tornado is a tornado that has a very narrow, often winding appearance. Tornadoes often go through a rope stage as they dissipate. A wedge is a very large tornado that appears wider than it is tall. Such large tornadoes are often strong. Waterspouts come in two varieties. Tornadic waterspouts are simply tornadoes that happen to be on water. Fair-weather waterspouts, which are more common, are a product of small-scale convection rather than rotation in a severe thunderstorm. These waterspouts are generally much weaker than ordinary tornadoes but they can still be dangerous to boaters.
Are waterspouts usually more dangerous than tornadoes?
No, in fact, they are much less powerful. ----- A waterspout is a tornado that forms over water instead of land. Unless you are on water, in its path, a tornado would be worse, because more people live on land.
Do tornadoes only form over land?
No, they can form over water. At that point it is called a tornadic waterspout.
Is a water spout thinner than a tornado?
On average waterspouts are thinner than tornadoes, though the ranges of size overlap.
Can waterspouts form under water?
No. Waterspouts are spinning columns of air, similar to tornadoes. They form as a result of conditions just above the water's surface, rather than in the water itself.
Do water tornadoes usually form on cold water?
No, water tornadoes, properly called waterspouts, usually form over water that is warmer than the air above it.
Does a tornado come from the ocean?
Tornadoes usually form over land rather than over bodies of water like oceans. However, if certain weather conditions are met, waterspouts can form over the ocean. Waterspouts are essentially tornadoes that form over water.
