Waterspout Spotted Off Long Island

Heavy rain Saturday evening spawned at least one waterspout in the Atlantic Ocean off Long Island, according to the National Weather Service.

A NWS spotter, Tom Provenzano, took the photo above, which shows the waterspout, essentially a tornado over water, just southwest of Long Beach around 5:30 p.m.

“Some of the stronger showers over the Atlantic Ocean this evening could continue to produce waterspouts, but we are NOT expecting them to move onshore,” the National Weather Service’s New York office posted on Facebook.

The steady rain is expected to wind down after midnight, but more rain is on the way Sunday. A hazardous weather outlook is in effect for Suffolk County. Numerous showers and a few thunderstorms late Sunday morning and afternoon have the potential to produce strong wind gusts, the NWS says.

Here’s the forecast:

• Tonight- Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 1am, then showers likely. Low around 66. Southeast wind 6 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
• Sunday- Showers likely, mainly after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 77. Southwest wind 6 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
• Sunday Night- Showers likely, mainly before 10pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58. Northwest wind 10 to 14 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
• Monday- Sunny, with a high near 75. West wind 11 to 16 mph.