Waterspout forms off the coast of Sonora, Mexico

A waterspout was observed on Saturday morning off the coast of Puerto Libertad, Sonora, in the Gulf of California. The phenomenon occurred between Bahía de Kino and Puerto Peñasco following the development of a cloud line between 8:00 and 9:30 AM.

According to MeteoAlert, the formation was caused by the interaction between cool air from cold front number 3 and the warm waters of the Gulf of California. At the time, sea surface temperatures were approximately 28 degrees Celsius, while air temperatures at an altitude of 1,500 meters were around 11 degrees Celsius.

While waterspouts are typically short-lived and tend to weaken upon reaching land, they can produce strong wind gusts in their vicinity. Authorities recommend that fishermen and vessels maintain a safe distance from such formations.