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Spectacular waterspout captured off Xpu-Ha beach in Riviera Maya

Riviera Maya, Q.R. — A spectacular weather scene off a Xpu-Ha beach had sunbathers recording it with their phones. On Thursday afternoon, a massive waterspout made a brief appearance off the beach.

The beach, which is around 25 kilometers south of Playa del Carmen, had some mesmerized by the natural regional event that happens several times a year. A perfectly formed waterspout appeared to exist motionless above the sea while people watched from land.

The sudden formation of the spout, which is a whirling column of air and water, was seen around 2:00 p.m. and was captured on numerous videos. The development of the waterspout is believed related to the afternoon development of large cumulus clouds.

The waterspout remained at sea and did not cause any land damage, something that has happened in the past. In the summer of 2022, a fast moving waterspout developed over the sea off a Playa del Carmen beach.

That spout moved quickly toward land, tossing hotel beach furniture into the air. Several lounger pads and sun umbrellas were seen ‘floating’ as high as several stories into the air as the spout touched land and eventually dissipated.

According to the SPC (Secretaría de Protección Civil, Prevención de Riesgos y Bomberos) of Solidaridad “a cloud core developing in the coastal zone of Xpuha with the heat stored in the sea generated instability and this waterspout arose. They will now be very common on our coast of the state. Although they are not dangerous, take precautions.”