Waterspouts are a whirling column of air and mist. According to the National Ocean Service, waterspouts fall into two categories; fair weather and tornadic. Fair weather waterspouts develop on the surface of the water in light wind conditions and work their way upward with little movement.
The more volatile tornadic waterspouts share the same characteristics as land tornadoes and are typically associated with thunderstorms including high winds and lightning. Tornadic waterspouts are tornadoes that form over water or have moved from land to water. When waterspouts move to land, the National Weather Service issues a tornado warning.