Weather Tracker: Waterspouts off Amalfi coast fuelled by unusually warm conditions

Meanwhile, Storm Bettina brings wind and rain to southern and eastern parts of Europe

Last Tuesday, the Amalfi coast in Italy saw more than one waterspout form offshore, fuelled by high humidity and relatively warm sea surface temperatures.

A waterspout is a column of rapidly rotating air, filled with cloud, which forms from a cumulus cloud above a large body of water. They are similar in appearance to small tornadoes, but are typically far less powerful. A typical waterspout is about 50 metres wide with wind speeds of about 50mph, and will exist for only five to 10 minutes.