ROCHESTER, N.Y. – As we move into late summer and early fall, the News10NBC First Alert meteorologists are once again turning their attention to Lake Ontario, where waterspout season is beginning to take shape. In fact, a few waterspouts have already been reported on the eastern end of the lake in recent days.
Although waterspouts may resemble tornadoes in appearance, they form under very different atmospheric conditions. They are impressive to witness but are generally short-lived and not considered dangerous for most of us. Though they can pose a concern to mariners.
The main driver behind waterspout formation this time of year is the interaction between cold air aloft and warm water at the surface. As colder air masses begin to move south from the northern latitudes, the atmosphere over our region, including Rochester, starts to cool. At the same time, the surface of Lake Ontario remains relatively warm after the summer months, with current buoy readings showing temperatures close to 70 degrees.
This temperature contrast is crucial. As the cold, dense air passes over the warmer lake surface, heat and moisture rise rapidly from the water. This rising motion creates instability in the lower atmosphere, and under the right conditions, can lead to a rotating column of air. The atmosphere, in a sense, is attempting to balance the temperature difference between the warm lake and the cooler air above. When this circulation becomes visible, a waterspout forms.
While it may appear that a waterspout is drawing water up from the lake, what you are actually seeing is condensation. Much like a cloud, the funnel is made up of water vapor condensing into droplets.
Waterspouts typically last no more than 20 minutes and produce wind speeds of 50 miles per hour or less. They often weaken or dissipate entirely as they move closer to shore, where the warm, moist conditions needed to sustain them are no longer present. For the most part, waterspouts are harmless, though boaters and others on the lake should always remain cautious when these circulations are nearby.
First Alert Weather In-Depth: Fall brings waterspouts back to Lake Ontario WHEC.com.
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