Heart-Pounding Video Shows Six Waterspouts Form Off The Gulf Of Mexico

Aug 27, 2020 by apost team

Mother Nature doesn't lack in its ability to instill shock and awe into us with its capability. It is sometimes bewildering to think that the same force that brings you beautiful breezy summer days can also wreak havoc with a tornado or a typhoon.

As human beings, we often watch in wonder and terror as the sheer power is unleashed upon us. A great example of how awe-inspiring Mother Nature can be was recently seen in a video from last week that has been viewed many times. The footage shows people on a boat watching in the distance as six waterspouts form on the horizon off of The Gulf of Mexico. 

What Are Waterspouts?

National Geographic defines a waterspout as a "column of rotating, cloud-filled wind." This phenomenon happens over a body of water, like a lake or an ocean. They have been known to cause damage to small boats, coral reefs, and any marine life that lives close to the surface. They are similar to tornadoes but don't have the same type of intensity. There are two types of waterspouts, fair-weather and tornadic. The fair-weather waterspouts are often linked to storm systems that are developing, while tornadic waterspouts owe their origin to actual tornadoes.

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On August 20th, Frank LeDay, a tool specialist from Moss Bluff, Louisiana, was enjoying a day out on a boat just off the Louisiana coast in the Gulf of Mexico when he noticed a strange sight in the distance. On the horizon, six huge waterspouts were twisting. While seeing one or two is impressive, six was both awe-inspiring and unsettling. In the video, you can hear people talking about seeing this phenomenon occur right before their very eyes.

LeDay counts them and seems floored by the sight himself. Seeing six waterspouts is not something that happens every day. The video gives viewers the feeling of watching something otherworldly, like something from the alien invasion film, Independence Day. It also gives the sensation that disaster is looming. The ominous dark clouds, just above the six waterspouts, seem to spell that out.

As mentioned before, fair-weather waterspouts, like these, are often tied to developing storm systems. In the case of these six waterspouts, this seems to be the case. There had been a lot of talk about two potential hurricanes hitting the Gulf Coast at the same time. An event like this occurring would cause catastrophic damage to the area. Tropical Storm Laura and Tropical Storm Marco were both bearing down on the area, and the waterspouts could have been a harbinger of sorts.

Luckily, Marco has weakened and provided only lots of strong wind and rain, but Laura still looms over the coastal area. As of 8/26, Laura has been upgraded to a Category 4 hurricane and is expected to unleash fury on land up to 30 miles off the coast. Winds are expected to reach up to 120 mph, and rainfall could reach up to 15 inches. It is expected to make landfall late 8/27 or early morning on the 28th. These waterspouts are a reminder of how Mother Nature can be beautiful and terrifying at the same time. It is also a reminder of how we, despite our intelligence and mastery of technology, are still very much at its mercy.

What did you think when you saw the six waterspouts in the video? Did it inspire feelings of awe or fear? Show this video of Mother Nature's beautiful fury to your friends and family to see how they react and let us know your thoughts on this natural phenomenon.