A waterspout appeared in Hong Kong for the first time, raising concerns about the potential risks if it had formed over land, as it could have resulted in a tornado. Such phenomena could be particularly dangerous in densely populated areas like Hong Kong, which has many skyscrapers.
On Saturday, the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) and local media reported that a waterspout appeared over Victoria Harbour at around 12:30 p.m. and lasted approximately two minutes.
Victoria Harbour, located between Kowloon Peninsula and Hong Kong Island, is one of the world’s three largest natural harbors and a popular tourist destination known for its stunning night views.
This waterspout was historically significant, as it was the first to be observed in Victoria Harbour since weather records began in 1959. The HKO attributed the phenomenon to unstable weather, including thunderstorms and showers caused by atmospheric disturbances.
A waterspout is a powerful, low-pressure vortex with a diameter ranging from a few meters to several hundred meters. It forms a funnel shape and, in the U.S., often develops into a tornado over land.
Eyewitnesses reported that the waterspout began in the Hung Hom area of East Kowloon and moved westward. It dissipated after hitting a wall near a swimming pool by the sea, where many people attending a swimming competition witnessed the event.
Some experts worry that the rare appearance of a waterspout could signal extreme weather changes.
As global warming creates conditions conducive to both waterspouts and tornadoes, Hong Kong meteorologists expressed concern that if this event had occurred over land, it might have developed into a tornado. Hong Kong’s dense urban landscape makes it particularly vulnerable to tornadoes.
While typhoons affecting Hong Kong typically take several days to form, and their paths and intensity can be predicted, tornadoes are known to create within minutes, making them much harder to prepare for.
