A waterspout was seen forming off the southwestern Philippine coast on December 6.

Locals in Zamboanga filmed the twister’s tail seemingly hanging from a mass of dark clouds in the sky.

Resident Francheska Urbina said: "I was a little scared when I saw it because the sky was so dark. Then suddenly, a long column formed from the clouds and lasted for about 15 minutes."

Waterspout tornadoes form when wind merges from opposite directions near the water’s surface, creating a small area of spinning air. Warm air at the surface causes the spinning air to rotate faster and it starts to rise – picking up water at the same time and forming a cloud.

Sometimes the air spins so fast that it stretches and a funnel appears from the water to the thunderstorm cloud above.

Waterspouts are generally not dangerous but they can be a risk for aircraft flying through the area and for coral reefs and marine life in the water immediately below. Sailors should also try to avoid waterspouts – as the consequences of floating into one could be disastrous.

A waterspout was seen forming off the southwestern Philippine coast.

Locals in Zamboanga filmed the twister’s tail seemingly hanging from a mass of dark clouds in the sky.

Resident Francheska Urbina said: ‘I was a little scared when I saw it because the sky was so dark. Then suddenly, a long column formed from the clouds and lasted for about 15 minutes.’

Waterspout tornadoes form when wind merges from opposite directions near the water’s surface, creating a small area of spinning air. Warm air at the surface causes the spinning air to rotate faster and it starts to rise – picking up water at the same time and forming a cloud.

Sometimes the air spins so fast that it stretches and a funnel appears from the water to the thunderstorm cloud above.

Waterspouts are generally not dangerous but they can be a risk for aircraft flying through the area and for coral reefs and marine life in the water immediately below. Sailors should also try to avoid waterspouts – as the consequences of floating into one could be disastrous.