Waterspout outbreak off the coast of northern Italy and Sardinia
Image credit: ICWR
A waterspout outbreak was reported off the coast of northern Italy and the island of Sardinia over the past couple of days. One of the waterspouts might be responsible for the sinking of a large yacht on August 19.
According to the International Centre for Waterspout Research (ICWR), an internationally recognized authority on the subject of watersports, 18 waterspouts were confirmed off the coasts of Italy on August 19.
“Some were powerful waterspouts, one of which may have been responsible for the sinking of a large yacht off of Sicily,” ICWR said.
ANSA reported the wreck of the yacht, which sank off the coast of Palermo at dawn on August 19, is located at a depth of about 50 m (164 feet). One body was recovered yesterday while 6 others remain missing. 15 people were rescued immediately after the shipwreck.
Waterspout Outbreak off Italy Continues!
— ICWR (@ICWR) August 20, 2024
We have confirmed 18 waterspouts today (Aug 19) off the coasts of Italy. Some were powerful waterspouts, one of which may have been responsible for the sinking of a large yacht off of Sicily. Send us your reports https://t.co/WPioHG0Az6 pic.twitter.com/q28QAH6hkS
According to ANSA, the six missing in the sinking of the sailboat Bayesian are Jonathan Bloomer, the chairman of Morgan Stanley International, his wife Anne Elizabeth Judith Bloomer, British entrepreneur Mike Lynch and his daughter Hanna, Lynch’s lawyer Chris Morvillo and his wife Nada.
The first confirmed waterspouts in this outbreak occurred on August 16 and 17, near the coast of Sardinia.
Waterspout outbreak off of Italy the last couple of days. At least 17 waterspouts were spotted off of over Northern Italy and the island of Sardinia. See where these and other waterspouts have been occurring at https://t.co/WPioHG02Jy pic.twitter.com/bCqFf4bTc8
— ICWR (@ICWR) August 19, 2024
One of several photogenic #waterspouts I’ve see today from Italy! This one from Capo di Leuca, Apulia, southern #Italy this afternoon! #SevereWeather #Extremeweather
— WEATHER/ METEO WORLD (@StormchaserUKEU) August 19, 2024
Video by Elena Severino. pic.twitter.com/kCEeWj3ZbT
Waterspout spotted today of the coast of Santa Cesarea Terme, southern Italy
— DISASTER TRACKER (@DisasterTrackHQ) August 19, 2024
19 August 2024 #waterspout #Italy #SantaCesareaTerme pic.twitter.com/ASRwPeMDNb
Just to make sure we know in what season we're in, this waterspout made landfall in Policastro, Campania region, yesterday. It impacted a beaching facility from where several kinds of objects were lofted. Everybody was unharmed… but this was terrifying to watch! Author unknown pic.twitter.com/PFSUXiGr7c
— Federico Pavan (@PavanFederico00) August 20, 2024
Video di Glauco Giusti, per "Trekking TV", di una tromba marina che si è abbattuta su un lido a Policastro Bussentino. pic.twitter.com/kceMvpn872
— Italia 24H Live – Notizie dall'Italia (@Italia24HLive) August 19, 2024
The large weather system that sparked the outbreak also dropped heavy rains over parts of southern Italy, causing severe flooding.
I'm a dedicated researcher, journalist, and editor at The Watchers. With over 20 years of experience in the media industry, I specialize in hard science news, focusing on extreme weather, seismic and volcanic activity, space weather, and astronomy, including near-Earth objects and planetary defense strategies. You can reach me at teo /at/ watchers.news.
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