Waterspouts and climate change - expert comment

Dr Peter Inness, a lecturer in meteorology, addresses the impact of climate change on the storm that caused a superyacht to sink in Sicily. Read: Weather expert answers key questions about waterspouts

Dr Peter Inness, meteorologist at the University of Reading, said: "The Mediterranean's waters are already known for their warmth, but now we're seeing them reach unprecedented temperatures. 

"We can't point to climate change as the culprit for the storm that sunk the superyacht in Sicily, but it's clear that warmer seas are creating a more hospitable environment for waterspouts. Waterspouts form beneath thunderstorm clouds, so they need the same ingredients as a thunderstorm. Heat and humidity in the lower atmosphere are the two main requirements, and as oceans warm, there will be plenty of both to give rise to more waterspouts. 

"It's like turning up the heat on a pot of water. You're more likely to see a pot boil over as the temperature increases. The more we turn up the heat on our oceans, the conditions in which waterspouts form become more likely.” 

"Our changing climate isn't just about numbers on a thermometer - it's about the very real and potentially dangerous weather that can result from these shifts."