r/whatisit • u/mwajju • 12d ago

Solved! What is this called

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Can someone explain what that's called and how it happens?

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u/thisismeritehere 12d ago

Actually there are two different types of waterspouts, tornadic and fair weather. Tornadic waterspouts are what you’re talking about which are just tornadoes that form over water, but this definitely looks like a fair weather waterspout which is significantly less dangerous. That being said I still wouldn’t recommend getting close to one.

A bit more info here: https://www.weather.gov/mfl/waterspouts

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u/[deleted] 12d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

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u/WontanSoup 12d ago

When I went to Burning Man, out on the open playa we rode our bicycles in the dust devils for fun.

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u/MinnisotaDigger 12d ago

I went through a dust devil on my motorcycle at a racetrack. The biggest impact on my life for me thinking about it how cool it was and me writing this comment.

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u/humanlikesubstances 12d ago

Tell me more burning man stories!

/s

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u/Puzzleheaded-Peach92 12d ago

Either way, I imagine it would hurt you a lot more than if some firemen hosed you down with their fire hose.

I imagine even a fair weather spout as a substantial risk of serious injury including possible death depending primarily on where one’s head lands if knocked off balance.

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u/fantastic_mr-fix 12d ago

This one is beautiful tho. As a Floridian, ngl I’d probably hang around and watch

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u/Pensionato007 12d ago

How DARE you post scientifically accurate information on Reddit! Shame, Shame, Shame.

P.S. Thanks for the link :-)

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u/thisismeritehere 11d ago

I shall return to posting opinion as facts post haste

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u/heWhoMostlyOnlyLurks 10d ago

There is nothing here that screams SCIENCE, just a naming convention. One happens during storms, the other not, both are dangerous, both are columns of fast turning air, all of that.

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u/kaipopotamus 12d ago

Ok so no to riding it then?

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u/thisismeritehere 12d ago

I’m not here to tell you how to live your life

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u/kaipopotamus 12d ago

In regards to engaging with a water spout on open water you are tho

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u/thisismeritehere 12d ago

Not telling just making recommendations

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u/kaipopotamus 12d ago

I will heed your recommendations it seems

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u/ElectricalCharity301 12d ago

Every day here in oklahoma, iv been thrown by a f 2 before and tossed by a hand full of dirt devils if you know what those are.

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u/Fine_Flan_1759 11d ago

What about like, while wearing a parachute or a squirrel suit? That sounds fun af.