A rotating column of air rose from the ground to the sky, attracting the attention of those nearby.
A rare landspout was seen in the coastal town of Gwadar on Monday, ahead of a western disturbance that is expected to bring rain to parts of the country.
The unusual weather phenomenon was observed rising from the ground to the sky, forming a visible rotating column of air that attracted the attention of residents in nearby areas. The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast rainfall from Tuesday under the influence of a western disturbance, with experts linking the formation of the waterspout to the same weather system.
According to meteorologists, landspouts and waterspouts are rotating columns of air that form under similar atmospheric conditions. Weak tornado-like formations develop over land, while waterspouts form over bodies of water.
Former PMD director Sardar Sarfraz said the waterspout seen in Gwadar was caused by a western low pressure system entering Pakistan. “Landstorms in the southwestern region of Balochistan were formed due to the arrival of a disturbance from the west,” Sarfraz said.
He noted that waterspouts had been reported several times in the past along the Pakistani coast, including near Gwadar. “The last reported waterspout was observed on January 20, 2019, about 57 nautical miles off the Gharo-Baari coastal belt of Sindh,” he said.
Sarfraz added that a similar weather event was reported earlier on February 28, 2016, off the coastal area of Sakooni near Kalmat Khor in Balochistan. Despite their name, Sarfraz explained that landspouts and waterspouts do not contain water in them. “These are columns of air filled with cloud particles that start rotating from the surface of the land or sea,” he explained.
He further explained that waterspouts are generally classified into two types: tornadic waterspouts and fair weather waterspouts. The clouds associated with fair-weather waterspouts move slowly, making these formations appear relatively stationary.
WWF-Pakistan technical advisor Muhammad Moazzam Khan said landspouts and waterspouts usually form under columnar clouds and are not usually associated with thunderstorms. “Such natural activity usually dissipates on its own within a short time,” Khan said.
He added that waterspouts have long been recognized as a serious marine hazard, particularly for small fishing boats. “They remain a threat at sea, which is why maintaining a safe distance is strongly recommended,” Khan said.
According to experts, waterspouts have an average diameter of around 50 meters, with wind speeds of up to 80 kilometers per hour. Although some can persist for up to an hour, their average lifespan is between five and ten minutes.
