Captured Waterspout Offshore Sanibel Island FL Pictures

October 12, 2009 – Sunday morning a water spout formed about 6 miles due south of Sanibel Island, Florida. Around 9:30am, a developing heavy shower was slowly moving west-northwest over the very warm Gulf waters offshore Southwest Florida. Shortly after a waterspout organized under the dark rain free base of the cell, with a visible funnel about halfway to the water surface. There was a surface circulation and spray ring visible in the pictures after having to enhance the contrast.

Further east over the interior Southern Florida peninsula, they were burning sugarcane like they do every October for harvesting. The easterly flow made for a hazy morning over the eastern Gulf waters, also making it harder to make out if the funnel was truly reaching the surface. From the visible eye, it was easier to see that indeed it was on the water and producing a spray ring. After messing around with the contrast levels in the digital pictures here, you can make out the spray below and to the right of the funnel / spout.

The duration of the water spout was about 7 minutes, at least from the first time I took notice of it, as I was packing up the car after our week long vacation on Sanibel Island. It made for a nice weather lover departing gift for me, after all the other outstanding nature photography I was able to capture throughout the week on the island.

Update – 10/13/09 - I want to thank Daniel Noah, Warning Coordination Meteorologist at The National Weather Service in Tampa Bay. Daniel sent me a archived radar image of the small cell. Below you can see truly how small this little shower was that produced the waterspout. Looking at the image also, I think it might have been further south than 6 miles from Sanibel. Again, thanks to Daniel for the update, and he also noted that the waterspout will be added to storm data.

Similar Waterspout Posts:
Lake Okeechobee Water Spout and Gustnadoes Video
Pompano Beach Florida Waterspout Pictures

Sanibel Island Sunset – Harvest Moon Coconut Palms

October 5, 2009 – Last night was our first evening on Sanibel Island, Florida. Kersten, JJ and I, are on a week long annual getaway trip along the southwest offshore Florida waters. Our first late afternoon and evening gave way to a beautiful Gulf of Mexico sunset along the white sandy beaches. We walked along the beach searching for seashells and taking pictures along the way as the light slowly faded. It was a nice end to the day after the pleasant trip over from the Florida east coast, and the awesome Miami Dolphins first (finally) win over the Buffalo Bills.

Just after sunset, the moonrise was also underway, as the bright October Harvest Moon broke the horizon looking back towards the east. Later that night the bright moon illuminated the coconut palm tree’s as they danced in the very warm southerly breezes.

My brother Craig made it over to the condo shortly after 10:30pm (after being at the Miami Game), to enjoy a few days with us as well. We fired up the grill again late into the night and had some burgers under the moon. Now as I write this post, it’s 3:00am and everyone is asleep as I edit a small sample of my pictures from our first day on vacation. Hope you like them DeeDee!