Puri: In a rare weather phenomenon, a waterspout was spotted off the Astaranga's Jahania coast in Puri district around 4 pm on Monday, leaving tourists and locals both startled and fascinated. The incident was witnessed nearly 1 km from the shoreline. Eyewitnesses said the swirling column appeared to rise from the sea surface towards dark clouds hovering overhead.
Tourists Capture the Spectacle
Tourists visiting the beach were initially gripped by fear on seeing the unusual formation over the sea. However, as the phenomenon remained at a distance and caused no damage, many began capturing videos and photographs of the spectacle. Local businessman Kshirod Tarai said the phenomenon continued for nearly 15 minutes. 'I saw such a scene for the first time in my life. The weather had been extremely hot throughout the day. Suddenly, dark clouds gathered over the sea around 4 pm. From a distance, it looked as if the clouds were sucking water from the sea,' he said.
Meteorological Explanation
Puri-based Meteorologist Kedar Sahoo said a waterspout is a rotating column of air and mist that forms over a water body, usually under towering rain clouds. 'It appears like a funnel extending from the cloud towards the sea surface. Waterspouts generally form when warm, humid air near the sea surface rises rapidly and interacts with cooler air above. Under unstable weather conditions, this rising air can begin rotating, eventually creating a vortex or funnel cloud over water. Such phenomena are more common during periods of high humidity, intense surface heating and sudden cloud development,' he said.
The waterspout did not cause any damage or injuries, and it dissipated after about 15 minutes. Local authorities have advised residents and tourists to stay alert during such weather events but assured that this particular incident was harmless. The event has sparked interest among weather enthusiasts and researchers studying coastal meteorological phenomena in the region.
