Waterspouts formed in the Corinth Gulf, west of Athens, on Tuesday as unsettled weather brought intense conditions to parts of Greece, with video footage capturing the striking phenomenon off the coastal site of Lykoporia.
The footage, recorded by local outlet KorinthosTV, shows rotating columns extending from storm clouds toward the sea. No injuries were reported in the area.
A waterspout forms when a rotating column of air connects the base of a cloud with the sea surface. The visible funnel consists largely of condensed water vapor and droplets, while the circulation can disturb the water below, producing spray and foam.
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Although some waterspouts are relatively short-lived, they can pose risks to small boats and people in the water.
The sighting came as Greece faced a wider deterioration in weather, although the seasonal precipitation is more than welcome. The National Meteorological Service forecast heavy rain and thunderstorms on Tuesday and Wednesday, particularly in coastal and maritime areas, with local hail also possible.
The Ionian islands, western mainland Greece and western Peloponnese were among the areas forecast to be affected on Tuesday. The Corinth Gulf sighting followed another waterspout reported between Mykonos and Naxos on Monday, as dark clouds gathered over the Aegean ahead of the approaching storm system.