Okinawa residents capture rare waterspout on camera
Featured image: Waterspout near Okinawa, Japan on May 15, 2017. Credit: Fabian Ciobanu
During the afternoon hours of May 15, 2017, residents of Okinawa, Japan were surprised to see a funnel cloud looming just off the coast. The waterspout never touched ground and there are no reports of damage or injuries.
The phenomenon was associated with a localized cumulonimbus cloud that formed along the rainy front. Since the waterspout took place near Ginowan Okinawa, home to the large Kadena American Military base, many Americans caught this unique phenomenon on their cameras.
"Tornadoes and waterspouts are not all that uncommon in Japan, but they normally occur in August – September associated with typhoons," WestPacWX and NHK Meteorologist Rober Speta said.
Video courtesy WestPacWX
Video courtesy Fabian Ciobanu
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