"Trombes" A sailing vessel in peril from multiple waterspouts In: "Les Meteores", Margolle et Zurcher, 3rd Edition, 1869. A waterspout is a tornado occurring over water that forms a column of water and mist extending between the surface and the clouds above. Waterspouts have a five-part life cycle: formation of a dark spot on the water surface, spiral pattern on the water surface, formation of a spray ring, development of the visible condensation funnel, and ultimately decay.