A waterspout was spotted off the coast of Es Vedrà on Friday afternoon, September 18, with several boats in the area capturing the unusual weather phenomenon on video.

The waterspout appeared at around 18:00 in waters close to Es Vedrà and was observed from different vessels sailing nearby. Videos recorded by boat captains show a visible funnel extending down from the cloud base towards the surface of the sea.

What happened off Es Vedrà?

The phenomenon appeared during the final stages of several days of unsettled weather across Ibiza and Formentera.

At the time of the sighting, AEMET's forecast for Ibiza still indicated a possibility of rainfall during the evening, with a 55% probability of precipitation on Friday and intervals of cloud with light rain expected between 18:00 and midnight.

AEMET's Ibiza Airport observations show that winds were present during the afternoon, although no rainfall was recorded at the airport during the hours immediately surrounding the reported sighting. Airport observations are not a measurement of conditions directly off Es Vedrà, so they should not be treated as a precise description of the weather at the waterspout's location.

What is a waterspout?

AEMET defines a waterspout as a tornado over water.

It is a rotating vortex often connected to a cumuliform cloud, with the lower part potentially made up of spray lifted from the sea surface. AEMET notes that the visible column can become increasingly inclined as wind shear changes with height in the lower atmosphere.

In other words, the funnel seen near Es Vedrà was not simply a column of rain. A waterspout is a rotating atmospheric phenomenon associated with a cloud and the surface of the water.

Are waterspouts dangerous?

Waterspouts are generally smaller and weaker than many typical land-based tornadoes, and AEMET says most do not exceed EF0 intensity.

That does not mean they are harmless.

According to AEMET, waterspouts can overturn boats or cause significant damage, particularly if they reach the coast. They normally weaken quickly after moving onto land, although some can travel inland for a short distance before dissipating.

For boaters, the main concern is the combination of a rotating vortex, potentially strong winds and unsettled weather.

A familiar Mediterranean phenomenon

Waterspouts are not unknown around the Mediterranean.

AEMET says they are relatively common along the Mediterranean coast during periods of significant atmospheric instability, particularly in autumn and winter.

Their appearance does not necessarily indicate that a major storm is developing at the location, but it does show that atmospheric conditions can support strong localised convection and rotation.

The timing followed several days of unstable weather

The sighting came after a significant weather episode affecting the Balearic Islands.

From Wednesday through Friday, the emergency services recorded 70 weather-related incidents across the archipelago. Ibiza accounted for 13, Formentera two and Menorca one, while Mallorca recorded 54.

None of the incidents in the official emergency balance were classified as serious.

On Thursday, the weather situation around Ibiza and Formentera had been serious enough for the emergency authorities to send a preventive ES-Alert to mobile phones across the two islands as a front carrying significant electrical activity, rain and wind approached the Pitiusas.

The waterspout was seen as the episode was winding down

By Friday, the Balearic Government had reduced the orange civil-protection alert covering Mallorca, Ibiza and Formentera to yellow, with the remaining alert expected to be lifted later in the day as the weather system weakened.

The waterspout therefore appeared during the closing phase of the wider unsettled-weather episode rather than at the peak of Thursday's emergency response.

No damage has been reported from the waterspout

The available reports confirm that the waterspout was observed and filmed from several boats.

There is currently no verified report in the sources reviewed of boats being damaged, people being injured or the waterspout reaching the Ibiza coastline.

That distinction matters because the presence of a waterspout can look dramatic on video without necessarily resulting in damage.

A striking sight near one of Ibiza's landmarks

Es Vedrà is one of Ibiza's most recognisable coastal landmarks, and the unusual weather event was visible from vessels navigating the surrounding waters.

The videos show the characteristic funnel shape descending from the cloud towards the sea, providing a clear visual example of the phenomenon described by AEMET as a waterspout.

For people at sea, however, the spectacle is also a reminder that rapidly changing weather conditions can produce dangerous localised phenomena even as a broader storm system begins to weaken.

What is confirmed

The reported waterspout appeared near Es Vedrà at around 18:00 on Friday, September 18.

Several boats captured video of the phenomenon.

AEMET defines a waterspout as a tornado over water and notes that, although generally smaller and weaker than typical land tornadoes, waterspouts can overturn boats and cause damage.

No verified injuries or damage connected specifically to this waterspout have been reported in the sources reviewed.

The sighting occurred as Ibiza and the wider Balearics were coming out of a multi-day period of unsettled weather.