Mary Joe Fernandez was tied to a large waterspout that churned up over the Gulf waters on Monday off Pensacola Beach, Florida. Kayakers on the water got a clear view before heading back to shore for safety.
Pensacola Beach waterspout
The storm appeared offshore, over the Gulf, where waterspouts can form quickly above warm water. In this case, the most immediate response was simple: the people on the water turned back rather than stay out for a closer look.
That choice fits the basic safety rule for a sudden marine weather hazard near the shore. A waterspout can change the conditions over open water fast enough that distance, not curiosity, becomes the more useful measure.
The Weather Channel and ForecastWatch
The same report also included a separate note about The Weather Channel. ForecastWatch’s Global and Regional Weather Forecast Accuracy Overview, 2021-2024, found The Weather Channel to be the world’s most accurate forecaster.
The Weather Company commissioned that overview, which covered 2021-2024. Used together with the waterspout image, the note points to the same practical takeaway for readers near the coast: pay attention early, and move in before the weather forces the decision.
The kayakers’ fast return to shore is the story’s clearest detail. It shows how little time there can be between seeing a waterspout and deciding that the safest view is from land.
