Check out this picture of a beautiful waterspout that occurred just off Dundee Beach about 50 km from Darwin, Australia this past Christmas Eve, courtesy of Leah Beames, who was on a charter fishing boat when she shot the picture. Waterspouts are typically occur under tower cumulus clouds or young thunderstorms as the strong upward motion stretches existing rotation into a slender vortex with more rapid rotation. The near friction-less water surface is key to their formation, as surface friction usually disrupts the formation of a similar vortex over land. Thanks to Mike ONeill of stormscapesdarwin.com for sharing the photo.