Stormy Weather Spawns Waterspout Off Ocracoke Inlet
The stormy weather over the Outer Banks this weekend spun up a waterspout around midday Sunday off Ocracoke Inlet.
Amanda Swan of Gordonsville, Va. was on the beach near South Point on Ocracoke Island when she captured pictures and video of the waterspout that appeared several miles to the south towards Portsmouth Island and then moved offshore as it grew.
Waterspouts are tornadoes over the water, but are much weaker than those that form over land. Local fisherman say it’s not unusual to see multiple waterspouts form well offshore.
The heavy rainfall threat continues through Thursday as deep moisture couples with an upper level low and a stalled surface front.
Most of the area should see around 4 to 6 inches of rain with some amounts as high as 10 inches possible with the slow-moving showers and thunderstorms that are known to produce waterspouts.
A flash flood watch is in effect for all counties through Tuesday evening, according to the National Weather Service in Newport/Morehead City.
