Waterspout thrills onlookers (+pics)

Herath Mudiyanselage Wajira Indika Herath

DASHING ACROSS WAVES: A Stuff.co.nz reader took these impressive pictures of the waterspout off Sumner Beach near Christchurch.

Herath Mudiyanselage Wajira Indika Herath

GETTING CLOSER: A Stuff.co.nz reader took these impressive pictures of the waterspout off Sumner Beach near Christchurch.

Herath Mudiyanselage Wajira Indika Herath

BIRD'S EYE VIEW: A Stuff.co.nz reader took these impressive pictures of the waterspout off Sumner Beach near Christchurch.

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Onlookers were thrilled to see a waterspout off Sumner Beach near Christchurch this morning

Stuff.co.nz reader Herath Mudiyanselage Wajira Indika Herath took these impressive photos from the Scarborough hills and said the spout formed around 10am.

"I could hear the neighbours around our house getting excited and going to their balconies. It lasted for about ten minutes and appeared to be moving towards land. We couldn't hear it."

He said it disappeared when it neared the cliffs of Scarborough.

Andy Scrase told weatherwatch.co.nz that he had witnessed the spout.

"It was pretty impressive. It seemed to track past Boulder Bay towards Sumner, from what I could see from South Brighton beach."

A waterspout is a tornado over a body of water which is connected to a cumuliform cloud.

Funnel diameters range from a few metres to up to 100 metres or more.

Waterspouts last for between 5 and 10 minutes, but large waterspouts can persist for up to one hour.

* Did you witness the waterspout? post your comments below.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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george   #5   05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

thats because it is a tornado ya kiwi haha

roger   #4   05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

Found:

1 Surfboard and surfer, top of Scarborough Hill... surfer fine, just a bit unsure of how she got there... she's had a cup of tea and is doing fine.

Louisa   #3   05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

Saw it from Godley Head Road, it began as a spike from the clouds which grew in length and diameter within seconds, we watched it for a good 15mins and could see it bend, twist and travel. Quite amazing seeing the water funneling and swirling, and right at the top you could see it pulsing. It broke up once then grew again. When it disappeared it broke from the top and appeared to be falling and then evaporated. Could see a second spike dropping from the clouds to the west of it, about a quarter of the first's length but it didn't grow and disappeared after about 5mins. Was very glad it didn't come to land, there were lots of cyclists and walkers out where we were!

Michelle   #2   05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

Saw it from a distance and at first we thought it was a tornado!

Tassie   #1   05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

It was awesome :D!

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