LAKEWOOD, Ohio -- Two waterspouts dipped down from a dark line of clouds over Lake Erie on Monday morning. They appeared beyond the Cleveland water intake crib, which is three miles from shore.



Seen from Lakewood under blue skies, one waterspout appeared to stretch from the low, dark clouds to the surface of the water, while another one started to form to the left.

The waterspouts appeared about 7:30 a.m. and dissipated within about 15 minutes. Waterspouts rarely come ashore and there were no reports of damage.



According to the National Weather Service, waterspouts are intense vortexes similar to tornadoes, but over water. Waterspouts are broken down into two categories: fair weather waterspouts and tornadic waterspouts.



Fair weather waterspouts usually form along a dark, flat base of a line of developing cumulus clouds. These waterspouts form in light wind conditions so they don't normally move very much. By the time the funnel is visible, a fair weather waterspout is near maturity. This type of waterspout is generally not associated with thunderstorms whereas tornadic waterspouts develop in severe thunderstorms.



Tornadic waterspouts are tornadoes that form over water or move from land to water. They have the same characteristics as a land tornado and can occur in severe storms that are accompanied by large hail and frequent lightning. If a waterspout moves onshore, the National Weather Service issues a tornado warning, as some of them can cause significant damages.



The National Weather Service says best way to avoid a waterspout is to move at a 90-degree angle to its apparent movement. Never move closer to investigate a waterspout, some can be just as dangerous as tornadoes.