A waterspout was confirmed off Bainbridge Island amid thunderstorms.
BAINBRIDGE ISLAND, Wash. — A waterspout was spotted off the coast of Bainbridge Island on Wednesday afternoon as thunderstorms rolled through Puget Sound.
The National Weather Service confirmed the waterspout, which was about 3 miles west of Magnolia about 3 p.m. The waterspout was “short lived,” NWS said.
Waterspouts are rotating columns of air and water mist that are similar to tornadoes that form over water. Tornadic waterspouts are associated with severe thunderstorms and can be just as dangerous as tornadoes. Fair weather waterspouts usually develop along dark flat bases of developing cumulus clouds in light wind conditions and typically don’t move a lot, according to the weather service.
If a waterspout moves to land, the weather service issues a Tornado Warning.
KING 5 viewers shared video of the waterspout developing and dissipating over Puget Sound. On the video, thunder is heard rolling through.
The waterspout developed as a low pressure system brought rain, wind, hail and graupel to the Puget Sound region. The strong spring storm also brought snow to the mountains. The system has moved out, and Thursday is expected to be a partly sunny day.
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