Rare waterspouts spotted in Finland over the weekend
Multiple waterspouts, a weather phenomenon resembling tornadoes over water, were observed in different parts of Finland on Saturday. The sightings occurred in Säkylä and the Kotka archipelago, with witnesses capturing the events on video.
Waterspout over Lake Pyhäjärvi
A waterspout was filmed by Sari Rönkä while she was trolling on Lake Pyhäjärvi in Säkylä with her husband. The waterspout extended from the lake’s surface to a dark rain cloud, creating a striking visual. Rönkä estimated that they were about 300 meters away from the phenomenon, which lasted only a short while before dissipating.
"It was a bit nerve-wracking, though—what if it comes toward us, what do we do then?" Rönkä recalled (Ilta-Sanomat). Despite the initial concern, the couple continued their fishing trip and reported catching several pike.
Anna Latvala, an on-duty meteorologist at Foreca, confirmed that the phenomenon was a waterspout, a strong wind vortex forming over water. She explained that the conditions were favorable due to a temperature difference between the warm lake water (around 20°C) and cooler air above, combined with a shower cloud creating updrafts. Latvala advised caution, noting that waterspouts can be unpredictable and potentially dangerous for boaters (Ilta-Sanomat).
Twin waterspouts in Kotka archipelago
In the Kotka archipelago, two waterspouts were observed intertwining as they moved across the sea. Timo Tuukkanen, who witnessed the event from Haapasaaret before 10 p.m., described the sight as unusual and impressive.
"It looked unusual when the two columns merged," Tuukkanen said (Ilta-Sanomat). The waterspouts were visible for 4–5 minutes, moving from southeast to northwest.
Minna Palmu, another witness in Pitkäluoto, Haapasaari, saw the same phenomenon while preparing her cottage for rain. She noted that while she had seen waterspouts before, this was the first time she observed two simultaneously.
"The experience was absolutely amazing, and it was especially fascinating to see how they moved and even seemed to cross paths at one point," Palmu told MTV Uutiset.
Pinja Rauhamäki, a meteorologist at the Finnish Meteorological Institute, explained that waterspouts are a type of wind vortex forming under rain or thunderstorm clouds. While not common, they occur annually in Finland during the summer, often appearing in groups (Ilta-Sanomat). The weekend’s thunderstorm-prone weather in the Kotka region provided ideal conditions for their formation.
