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Luxury yacht sinking -

A waterspout is thought to have caused the sinking of the Bayesian, a luxury yacht carrying Mike Lynch and several companions, off the coast of Sicily. While it may sound like a freak occurrence, waterspouts and tornadoes are common in Europe.

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What is a waterspout? -

A waterspout is a spinning column of air that occurs over a body of water, typically extending from a cumulus or cumulonimbus cloud. 

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Types of waterspouts: fair-weather - Fair-weather waterspouts develop in relatively calm weather with little variation in wind speed and direction at different atmospheric heights.

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Tornadic - Tornadic waterspouts form under the same severe weather conditions that produce tornadoes. They are capable of significant damage, particularly if they make landfall.

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What kind of damage can waterspouts do? -

The intense and erratic winds of a tornadic waterspout can cause structural damage to wind turbines, putting them out of action and requiring costly repairs. The sudden and strong winds can also threaten offshore workers and sweep them into the water.

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What is a tornado? -

A tornado is a violently rotating column of air that extends from a thunderstorm to the ground.

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The Fujita scale -

Tornadoes are measured on the Fujita scale, ranging from F0 (very light damage, if any) to F5 (catastrophic). Wind speeds can exceed 310 mph (500 kph).

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What is a supercell? -

A supercell is a large, powerful thunderstorm characterized by a rotating updraft called a mesocyclone. Supercells are known for their longevity and potential to produce severe weather, including tornadoes.

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Waterspouts and tornadoes in Europe -

According to data from the European Severe Weather Database, there are around 300 tornadoes on land and 500 waterspouts across the continent per year. 

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Europe vs. the USA -

Europe experiences far fewer tornadoes than the US, where there are 1,000 tornadoes a year. 

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Damage -

Despite Europe experiencing far fewer tornadoes than the US, the threat needs to be better understood and prepared for. In 2021, a deadly tornado hit villages in Czechia, killing several people and injuring more than 150.

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Does Europe underestimate the risk? -

According to experts, Europe underestimates the risks posed by tornadoes and waterspouts. One possible reason is that the countries' weather services operate independently and don't routinely share weather data with each other.

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Tornadoes aren't rare in Europe -

Experts say that if you were to consider all of Europe as one connected region, then you'd see that tornadoes aren't a rare event. But since each weather service focuses only on its own small region, they don't see tornadoes frequently and are often caught off guard. 

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Czechia tornado -

Analysis of the 2021 South Moravia tornado showed that many people weren't aware of the risk associated with the tornado. When people tried to shelter in the most secure part of their homes, it was often too late.

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Waterspouts may seem less threatening -

To people on land, waterspouts may seem less threatening, but they can race toward ports and coastlines and capsize boats in the process.

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Waterspouts making landfall -

According to an analysis of tornadoes and waterspouts recorded in Italy, from 2001 to 2016, there were 707 waterspouts and 371 tornadoes, with 25% of the waterspouts making landfall and becoming tornadoes.

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Waterspouts making landfall -

If a waterspout makes landfall and turns into a tornado, it can uproot trees, damage buildings, and displace debris. The intensity of the damage depends on the strength of the waterspout, but it can be as destructive as a regular tornado if it's powerful enough.

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Waterspout or downburst? -

In the case of the yacht disaster in Sicily, it's not clear whether the column observed over the sea was a waterspout or a downburst. On land, experts can inspect the shape of the damage path and evaluate the exact type, but this isn't possible over water.

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Catalonia -

According to an analysis of tornadoes and waterspouts reported between 2000 and 2019 in Catalonia, the southern European region is a hotspot, with 105 tornadoes and 329 waterspouts reported in a 32,000 sq km (12,355 sq miles) area. 

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Storm spotters and social media -

According to experts, observers taking photos of waterspouts and sharing them on social media has been vital in documenting these storms better. While big tornadoes can be detected using meteorological radars, waterspouts aren't observable with this technology, so information mainly comes from direct witnesses.

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Balearic Islands -

A study of 234 waterspouts recorded in the Balearic Islands in Spain between 1989 and 2020 found that most of them happened in the fall, with the highest frequency seen in September. 

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Balearic Islands -

The study also showed that waterspouts are more common when the sea temperatures are higher, particularly between 23°C and 26°C (73°F and 79°F).

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Climate change -

Climate change is leading to more severe storms in Europe. While more research into the link between tornadoes and the climate emergency is needed, rising global temperatures means warmer air, allowing it to hold more moisture and boosting the chance of thunderstorms.

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Climate change -

A higher chance of thunderstorms leads to more violent storms and may result in more tornadoes. In one incident in 2023, 15 waterspouts were recorded in a single day by the International Centre for Waterspout Research off the coasts of Italy, France, and Spain.

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The storm season may be lengthening -

The storm season in the Mediterranean appears to be lengthening, producing more storms in August, ahead of the traditionally stormy months of September and October. 

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Marine heat wave -

In the summer of 2022, a marine heatwave over the Mediterranean Sea triggered a derecho, which is a severe type of storm. The sea reached its highest surface temperature with a daily median of 28.9°C (84°F). Since then, the world's oceans have continued to break heat records.

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What is a derecho? -

A derecho is a powerful and long-lasting windstorm associated with a line of severe thunderstorms. It produces straight-line winds, often exceeding 58 mph (93 kph), over a large area. They can cause widespread damage, similar to what a tornado might produce, but over a broader region.

Sources: (BBC) (The Guardian) (Yahoo!) (News)

See also: How to survive tornadoes, shark attacks, and other life-threatening situations

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