Huge waterspout towers off New Jersey coast

A huge waterspout was spotted on Barnegat Bay between Toms River and Seaside Heights in New Jersey Saturday, May 8. Footage filmed by a passer-by shows the waterspout swirling out at sea.

According to the Met Office, funnel clouds, also known as a tuba, form when a rotating column of wind draws in cloud droplets. They become defined as a waterspout if they make contact with a body of water, or a tornado if they reach land. They are usually seen when heavy rain, hail, thunder and lightning are on the way.