Watch: Waterspout forms at Dún Laoghaire marina

A Met Éireann forecaster has said a small and fast waterspout may have formed in Dún Laoghaire marina yesterday evening due to weather conditions in recent days.

A waterspout is a whirling column of air and water, which, while rare, can form when certain conditions are in place and can travel at speeds of between 10 and 15 knots (18km/h to 28km/h).

Footage from the Dún Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club’s webcam shows an unusual event occurring close to the area’s pier at 5.55pm.

In the footage, a disturbance on the water is seen speeding across from the right to the left of the screen.

The disturbance can be seen sending water into the air, rocking anchored boats as it goes beneath them, before continuing over Dún Laoghaire pier.

Dún Laoghaire marina says it had no reports of a disturbance.

Met Éireann meteorologist Siobhán Ryan said it shows signs of being a small and fast waterspout attempting to form in the water.

She said although it cannot be definitively confirmed, recent changing weather conditions, low pressure, and the fact the disturbance is moving counter-clockwise would indicate a waterspout.

She said the way in which the disturbance travels below the anchored boats also indicates it is a waterspout, as these sea events occur from the water up, unlike a tornado which occurs from the air down.

In addition, Ms Ryan said the dark flat cumulus clouds in the webcam footage also indicate conditions which could form a waterspout, although she said it was moving faster than may normally be expected.