The Uganda National Meteorological Authority (UNMA) has explained the recent weather phenomenon that happened on Lake Bunyonyi found in south western Uganda.
In a statement to journalists at the Uganda Media Centre, George William Omwony, a meteorologist with UNMA, said what happened on Lake Bunyonyi on January 21, 2019 was none other than a waterspout, and not a tornado as some members of the public were saying.
“A waterspout is a small diameter column of rapidly swirling air in contact with a water surface and are closely related to other atmospheric phenomenon such as a tornado,” he said.
Mr. Omwony said the common weather phenomenon include wind, cloud, rain, snow, fog and dust storms. Less common events include natural disasters such as waterspouts, tornadoes, hurricanes, typhoons and ice storms.
He said an average waterspout would be around 50 meters in diameter and that it’s associated wind and moves at an average speed of about 40-50 miles an hour (64-80 Km/hr).
He said the lifespan of a typical waterspout on average lasts 5-10 minutes though he said occasionally a large waterspout may persist for up to one hour.
A waterspout is more than likely to stay on the water and be typically harmless. However, sometimes a waterspout may transcend over to land & turn into a full scale tornado that can run havoc on lives and property.
In a video that circulated widely on social media, a waterspout is seen on the shores of Lake Bunyonyi during a heavy downpour. The video left many in shock and awe amid speculation of what might have caused the previously unseen occurrence raising more fears about climate change and its effects.