A waterspout was seen hovering over the sea off the northwestern coast of Saint Lucia around 1:50 p.m. on September 25.
The funnel-shaped cloud was visible from several vantage points, including the Castries city centre, where bystanders captured photos and videos that quickly spread online.
“I had to stop to capture this… what is this? Is that a tornado forming? … Oh my God, oh no! This is amazing,” one person can be heard saying in a video circulating on social media.
Another observer told the St. Lucia Times, “At first I was like, ‘Is that a tornado?’ Especially considering the gloomy weather at the time. After my initial surprise, I just thought it looked pretty cool.”
According to the Saint Lucia Meteorological Services, the waterspout remained offshore and has since dissipated without making landfall.
“This resulted in no impact to coastal communities or infrastructure,” said Acting Director of the Meteorological Services Vigil Saltibus in a statement.
“It usually poses a significant risk to small vessels and can become dangerous if it moves on shore.”
Saltibus noted that current conditions do not suggest an immediate risk or recurrence of the September 25 event. “As a precautionary measure, we’re advising all fishing vessels and recreational boaters to remain vigilant and exercise caution when venturing out to sea,” she added.
The meteorological services said it continues to actively monitor the atmosphere and will issue immediate updates should conditions change. “Residents can remain assured that we’re maintaining close watch of the situation,” Saltibus said.
