Tourists rushing to evacuate following tornado's strike at Lake Constance
A remarkable sight graced the shores of Lake Constance on Tuesday morning as a waterspout, reminiscent of a tornado, spun into the sky. This natural phenomenon, characterized by its spiral shape and strong rotating winds, was observed for approximately an hour.
The waterspout formed south of Friedrichshafen, over calm water, and reached up to 800 meters into the sky, according to the German Weather Service (DWD). The diameter of the water vortex was around fifty meters.
Though the waterspout was a spectacular natural event, causing amazed eyes and breathless moments among onlookers, no damages have been reported so far. The large water vortex, however, could potentially cause dangerous oscillations for larger boats.
Waterspouts on Lake Constance are not uncommon, with two to three sightings occurring annually. They are primarily caused by local atmospheric instability over the lake, thunderstorms or convective weather conditions that generate strong upward air currents, and the lake’s relatively warm surface temperature compared to the cooler air above. These factors create conditions favorable for waterspout formation.
Waterspouts occur when a combination of these factors leads to a rotating column of air and water mist reaching from cloud base to the lake surface. Despite their sporadic occurrence, mostly during the warmer months, they are generally short-lived and generate strong winds and water spray but rarely cause serious damage unless they move onshore.
Swiss television's weather service recorded the waterspout in video and photo, providing a stunning visual documentation of this natural wonder. The occurrence of such events serves as a reminder of the awe-inspiring power and beauty of nature.
Sources: 1. German Weather Service (DWD) 2. Local fisherman reports 3. Swiss television's weather service records
Other weather phenomenon on Lake Constance, such as thunderstorms, can further exacerbate conditions favorable for waterspout formation. The lake's other water features, like these potentially dangerous oscillations for larger boats, may also be influenced by these events.
