A series of dramatic waterspouts, resembling tornadoes but forming over water, have been spotted in the Salento region of Puglia, Italy.

These extreme weather events occurred on August 19, affecting the entire region from north to south, with the most striking phenomena observed in the lower Adriatic Sea.

In Castro, three waterspouts appeared simultaneously, while in Gagliano del Capo, a large waterspout was captured on video.

The regional civil protection agency had issued a yellow weather alert for hydrogeological risks.

Waterspouts are unpredictable and form due to atmospheric instability, with cold air over warm, moist air.

They rarely reach the coast but can cause significant damage when they do.

The increasing frequency of these events is linked to rising Mediterranean temperatures, with recent records showing unprecedented sea temperatures.