A WILD waterspout stopped traffic, demolished a wall and even spun a car as it crossed the coast at Scarborough this morning.

The Weather Bureau confirmed the waterspout hit land just before noon, swirling across West Coast Highway in front of bewildered motorists with winds travelling around 90km/h as they swept across the carpark of the White Sands Tavern.

The winds were strong and fast enough to spin a car 90 degrees, as witnessed by nearby resident Shelton Benis, who was taking photos from the balcony of his hotel room.

He said the waterspout came out of nowhere.“I was actually gobsmacked,” Mr Benis said.

“I had to look at it maybe five or more times to comprehend ‘did this actually happen’. I was actually quite concerned — is it going to hurt someone or do some severe damage.”

Mr Benis filmed the damage from a balcony on the 25th floor of Scarborough’s Rendezvous Hotel.

Play Video Damage caused by a waterspout in Scarborough. Filmed by Colm Walsh Damage caused by a waterspout in Scarborough. Filmed by Colm Walsh

Pieces of tin and wood from the building site at the new ocean pool were sent skyward.

The damage left behind was substantial, causing the wall of a nearby gym to topple and sending rubble flying across the carpark.

Another witness, Ryan Dodd, pulled out his phone just in time to capture the waterspout tear across the carpark and topple the wall.

“As it crossed the road it looked like it was turning towards us and kind of froze there for a bit,” Mr Dodd said.