Deadly Water Spout Phenomenon Scares Mainers Near Ellis Pond, ME

Have you ever seen or heard of a water spout?

If you saw the headline picture, they look fake.

According to a National Weather Service article, "Waterspouts are similar to tornadoes over water..." There are two types of water spouts: fair-weather waterspouts and tornadic waterspouts.

These "tornadoes" create an ominous tunnel from the water to the sky.

And this is exactly what took place over Ellis Pond in Roxbury and Byron, Maine last week.

Check out the crazy video below. It looks as if something is connecting the sky and the pond...like a tornado, or a cloud.

But it is actually a swirling column of air that is full of mist.

Waterspouts are deadly.

If you look up death by waterspouts anywhere on the internet, you will find sad, and true stories that have happened all over the world, including New England.

So what the heck do you do if you see one? SWIM!

No, I am kidding - kind of.

You do not want to swim or steer your boat towards an active water spout.

Although they do not have as much power as a tornado, they can still do some serious damage.

The National Weather Service recommends swimming or driving your boat at a 90-degree angle from the apparent motion of the waterspout.