HURRICANE HUNTERS SPOT WATERSPOUT! (1st Lt. Kelsie Carpenter via WeatherNation)

DISCUSSION: As Hurricane Hunter reconnaissance aircraft investigated the core circulation affiliated with what is now Tropical Storm Colin, they noticed a very unexpected surprise as they made one of their several passes through the different sections of the currently disorganized tropical storm.  That unexpected find was in the form of a waterspout as captured in the image below by Hurricane Hunter staff member (1st Lieutenant Kelsie Carpenter) wherein a classic waterspout was seen over the heart of the warm Gulf of Mexico as the storm continues to slowly intensify.  Waterspouts are often common with tropical storms both during their periods of intensification or sometimes rapid intensification as well as during the pre- and post-landfall stages associated with tropical storms.  Though they are not incredibly uncommon to be found in and around the circulations associated with tropical storms, this is still an awe-inspiring sight nonetheless that they were in the right location at the right time to observe this neat atmospheric phenomena!  Stay tuned for more updates right here at the Global Weather and Climate Center for the latest information regarding the status of Tropical Storm Colin.  To learn more about other high-impact weather, be sure to click here!

1st Lt. Kelsie Carpenter of the Hurricane Hunters snapped this shot of a #waterspout inside #TropicalStormColin! pic.twitter.com/vphidJyEu2

— WeatherNation (@WeatherNation) June 6, 2016