Waterspouts Possible On Lake Erie On Thursday, Friday

OHIO — Waterspouts could form Thursday and Friday on Lake Erie, the National Weather Service warned.

Waterspouts are columns of spinning water and air that develop over bodies of water. They're most likely on Lake Erie during September, when the lake's water are warmer than usual, the National Weather Service said.

On Thursday, the agency issued a warning about possible waterspouts forming this week. The twirling columns could be seen over Lake Erie starting Thursday and continuing through Friday morning.

Waterspouts are most likely to form east of the Lake Erie islands, the National Weather Service said.

There are two types of waterspouts: tornadic waterspouts and fair weather waterspouts. As the naming suggests, tornadic waterspouts are more dangerous and are capable of wreaking havoc along shorelines and even making landfall.

Fair weather waterspouts usually descend from cumulus clouds, the National Ocean Service said. They're normally stationary and dissipate fairly quickly.

If you spot a waterspout, do not move nearer to see it. Instead, move away at a 90-degree angle to its apparent movement, the National Ocean Service added.