Waterspout spotted off of Hatteras Island on Monday afternoon
A waterspout was spotted off of southern Hatteras Island at approximately 3:00 p.m. on Monday, September 2, in the open waters of the Pamlico Sound.
Sightings of the waterspout were reported from Avon to Hatteras Village, and the waterspout dissipated after roughly 10 minutes, (without making contact with land), according to multiple residents and visitors.
A waterspout is a whirling column of air and water mist, and waterspouts fall into two categories: fair weather waterspouts and tornadic waterspouts, per the National Weather Service (NWS). Tornadic waterspouts have the same characteristics as a land tornado and are associated with severe thunderstorms. Fair weather waterspouts usually form along the dark, flat base of a line of developing cumulus clouds in light wind conditions, and normally move very little.
According to the NWS Newport/Morehead City Office, Monday will bring another round of showers in the afternoon and evening throughout the Outer Banks. Temperatures are expected to dip slightly overnight, with strong northeast winds of 20 mph or more forecast for Tuesday, and a high or moderate risk of rip currents.
For more information on the local forecast, visit www.weather.gov/mhx for weather information, or the National Weather Service office in Newport/Morehead City’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/NWSMoreheadCity/.
