A thick column of water shot up into the air, extending upward towards the clouds, resembling a giant dragon soaring into the sky, creating a spectacular sight.
According to data from the Hong Kong Observatory, a waterspout is a rapidly rotating column of air extending from a thunderstorm cloud to the surface of the water. When it occurs over water, it's called a "waterspout."
Waterspouts generally have lower wind speeds compared to tornadoes on land. Sometimes, waterspouts can suck up water, earning them the colloquial name of "dragon sucking water."
The top of the waterspout connects with the thunderstorm cloud, while the bottom extends directly to the water's surface, rapidly rotating and laden with moisture.
Many waterspouts form far from thunderstorm systems, sometimes even in fairly clear weather. They typically last only a few minutes, with the longest ones lasting no more than a few tens of minutes, accompanied by tremendous roaring sounds, deafening to the ears.
According to a spokesperson from the Hong Kong Observatory, waterspouts and tornadoes may occur during unstable weather conditions with strong convection.
The heavy rain season in Hong Kong usually occurs from May to August, with prolonged heavy rain for several days being relatively uncommon in March and April.
Currently, strong southwest monsoon winds are prevailing over the South China Sea, while weak cold air is moving southward from the north. These two air masses collide, causing intense convection and rapid uplift of air, leading to the formation of thunderstorms and even squall lines, resulting in the current weather conditions.
The current weather conditions and pattern favor the formation of heavy rain, and there may be heavy rainfall in the coming days.
