Northeast Ohio: Waterspouts form over Lake Erie

Cooler than normal temperatures with an upper level trough over the Great Lakes makes for some interesting weather Thursday morning.

The National Weather Service says it has received reports of waterspouts along the lake shore from Avon Point to Cleveland to Mentor.

Photos: Waterspouts

Video: Waterspout near downtown Cleveland

Video: Waterspouts off Huntington Beach

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There are generally 5 stages to a waterspout.

1st Stage: The first sign, which can be seen from the air but usually not from a boat, is the formation of a dark spot on the water. Many dark spots dissipate without growing into a spout.

2nd Stage: A boat at the surface would probably feel the wind shift and maybe increase. Also, if you looked upward, you might see a funnel coming from a cloud overhead or off to one side.

3rd Stage: Even though it might be invisible, a vortex is reaching the lake surface from the cloud. At this time you might see the funnel pointing down from the cloud toward the ring.

4th Stage: When the funnel reaches all the way from the cloud to the lake surface. You can usually see through the funnel - it's really a thin cloud of tiny water droplets. During this stage, small waves are being kicked up and the spout leaves a bubbly wake behind as it moves across the water.

5th Stage: The spray vortex weakens as the funnel becomes shorter and retracts into the base of the cloud disconnecting from the surface. This usually occurs when the cloud producing the funnel crosses from the water to land.