Waterspouts appeared over the Great Lakes over the weekend, including Lake Erie, according to reports.
The International Centre for Waterspout Research, a nonprofit that monitors the phenomenon, reported 23 waterspouts over Western Lake Erie and four over Eastern Lake Ontario on Sunday.
A waterspout is a spinning column of air and water mist above bodies of water, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. They can resemble funnels.
Waterspout Outbreak Over the Lower Great Lakes!
ICWR waterspout hunters have seen 23 waterspouts / funnels over Western Lake Erie and 4 over Eastern Lake Ontario this morning. Send us your reports!https://t.co/WPioHG0Az6 #ohwx #onwx https://t.co/Pjdaqzphwz— ICWR (@ICWR) September 7, 2025
The ICWR said there’s a slight chance waterspout activity could continue on the Great Lakes into Monday, according to the Detroit Free Press.
Waterspouts tend to form on the Great Lakes from August to October, the National Weather Service said, and last from about two to 20 minutes, moving along at speeds of 10 to 15 knots.
The two types are tornadic waterspouts or fair-weather waterspouts, NOAA said, the Free Press reported.
Tornadic waterspouts move from land to water or form over water, often with severe thunderstorms, and typically feature high winds, hail and lightning, NOAA said.
