Tornado and watersprout

• A tornado occurs over land while a waterspout occurs over water. Both have a rapid rotation of air and hence they are both classified as tornadoes; so a waterspout is a type of tornado.
• Waterspouts don’t need a powerful storm to create them. They thrive on warm, moist air above water, especially when there is little wind shear, and when air above the clouds is cooler than average.
• Waterspouts tends to be weaker. The force of friction is weaker over water; there is less air available to be drawn into circulation. Fair weather waterspouts & Tornadic waterspouts, are two categories.
• Tornadic waterspouts form over water or move from land to water. They are severe thunderstorms and are often accompanied by high winds and seas, large hails and frequent dangerous lightning.
• Fair weather waterspouts usually form along a line of developing cumulus clouds. This is generally not associated with thunderstorms.
• A fair weather waterspout develops on the surface of the water and works its way upward. It forms in light wind conditions, and move very little....Read more

Source web page:New Indian Express