AMAZONAS, BRAZIL — A water spout formed over Coari Lake during a storm last Saturday (26) in Coari, in the interior of Amazonas. The phenomenon was recorded on video by residents and occurred near Freguesia Beach, one of the city’s tourist attractions.

The footage shows a rotating column of air over the water. The recording drew attention on social media, where residents said the phenomenon is common in the region. “It’s always happened, it just wasn’t filmed,” one comment said.

Other internet users questioned whether the video had been generated by artificial intelligence (AI). Coari’s Civil Defense, however, confirmed that the phenomenon occurred.

A water spout is a rotating column of air that forms over bodies of water, such as rivers, lakes and oceans. The phenomenon occurs when certain atmospheric conditions favor the formation of a funnel-shaped cloud that extends to the water’s surface.

In general, a water spout loses strength when it reaches land. The phenomenon can pose risks to boats and aircraft because of strong winds and turbulence.

Amazon Agency