Boaters urged to seek shelter as 'waterspout watch' issued for coastal B.C.
CTV
Environment Canada has issued a waterspout watch for British Columbia's South Coast, urging mariners to prepare for the potentially dangerous wind phenomena.
Environment Canada has issued a waterspout watch for British Columbia's South Coast, urging mariners to prepare for the potentially dangerous wind phenomena.
Marine weather forecasters say conditions are favourable for the formation of waterspouts in the Strait of Georgia and on the west coast of Vancouver Island as a low-pressure system moves through the region Wednesday.
"Wind speeds inside the spray ring of a waterspout are 45 knots or higher," the weather office warned. "Vulnerable vessels are at risk of damage or capsizing."
Boaters are urged to postpone voyages along the B.C. coast or seek safe harbour until the warning is lifted, if possible.
Similar to tornadoes, waterspouts are whirling columns of air and moisture that can be extremely destructive, according to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The agency says there are two types of waterspouts – fair weather waterspouts and tornadic waterspouts.
Fair weather spouts typically form in relatively calm conditions and travel little distance, while tornadic waterspouts are associated with severe thunderstorms, hail and high seas, and have the same characteristics as land-based tornadoes.
