Q. What is a 'Waterspout', recently mentioned in news?
Answer:
A rotating column of air and mist over water
Notes: A luxury yacht sank off Sicily, Italy, during a violent storm, causing one death and six people missing, possibly due to a waterspout. Waterspouts are rotating columns of air that form over water, resembling tornadoes but are usually weaker. They last 5-10 minutes, with an average diameter of 50 meters and wind speeds up to 100 km/h. Fair-weather waterspouts form when cool air moves over water, while tornadic waterspouts are linked to thunderstorms and can start as tornadoes on land before moving over water.