Introduction

     Land spouts and water spouts are storms similar to tornadoes. They form like tornadoes with a dark spot, spiral pattern, spray ring, and decay.

Land Spouts 

     Land spouts form by a growth stage of a cumulus congestus cloud.  The cloud stretches upward and into the cumulus congestus updraft. Land spouts form over land.

Water Spouts

     These are some of the main features of a water spouts:

1. Dark Spot - The surface of the water takes on a dark appearance where the vortex, or column of rotating wind, reaches it (vortex column fluid , such as air (wind) or water)

2. Spiral Pattern - Light and dark bands spiral out from the dark spot.

3. Spray ring - A swirling ring of sea spray called a cascade forms around the dark spot.   

4. Mater vortex - The water spout is now at its most intense state. It is visible from the surface of the water to the clouds over head. It appears to have a hollow funnel and maybe round vapor. 

5. Decay - When the warm air mixes into the vortex at the end, the water spout collapses.