Kathy Schell, age 9, of Youngstown, Ohio, for her question:

What kind of storm is a waterspout?

A waterspout begins when a dark funnel weaves down from a dark storm cloud. This is just how a tornado also begins. Both of them are whirling, windy funnels that suck in the air like super sized vacuum cleaners. Their whirling winds are strong     strong enough to pull in heavy objects and swoosh them up the middle of the funnel. A tornado happens on land, where the wild winds can grab heavy solid objects and toss them around. A waterspout happens over the sea where the only thing it can grab is water.

Actually, a waterspout is a sea going tornado. Both of these small furious storms act in the same way. A waterspout sucks in tons of water and the center of the windy funnel lifts it high above the ground. It is strong enough to lift fishes, shells and sand, along with the water. In olden days, sailors feared the sight of a waterspout. They knew that if it came close enough it could shatter their small boats and sink them. Those who sail in little boats still do.