Emergency responders in St. Vincent and the Grenadines were Thursday evening assessing the impact of an unusual wind phenomenon in Georgetown.
A weather expert told iWitness News that based on what was described that the phenomenon was a waterspout, that “technically” would be considered a tornado when it made landfall.
Video circulating on social media showed what appeared to be strong winds moving in a circular motion on the seawater near shore in the town on the east coast of St. Vincent, known for strong winds from the Atlantic Ocean.
The system then moved onto land and debris could be seen flying in the air.
The weather expert told iWitness News that a water sprout is generally formed when there is a strong updraft and downdraft in the clouds.
“Sometimes the down is so strong and has circulation that produces that. It is similar to what may be called a tornado,” the expert told iWitness News.
Initial reports are that there were damage to vehicles and homes as a result of the phenomenon.