Two waterspouts off Corfu on Wednesday

Two waterspouts formed almost simultaneously off Corfu, in the area of the Diapontia Islands, on the morning of Wednesday 16 September 2026, at around 08:30, according to a report by flash.gr. The first appeared near Mathraki and the second near Othonoi, the two smaller of the Diapontia Islands, amid unstable weather conditions prevailing at the time in the Ionian Sea. The first images of the phenomenon came from eyewitnesses who were in the area and were subsequently broadcast by local Corfu media. No damage to vessels or infrastructure, nor any injuries, have been reported from either of the two waterspouts, while the phenomenon lasted a few minutes before dissipating out at sea.

A waterspout is, broadly speaking, a whirlwind that forms over a sea surface and is linked to intense atmospheric instability, when cold air at altitude meets warmer, moist layers near the sea, creating a column of rotating air that extends from the clouds to the surface of the water. Autumn is considered a period of increased frequency of such phenomena in the Ionian, as the temperature contrasts between the still-warm sea and the cooler atmosphere become more pronounced after the end of summer. Waterspouts usually last a few minutes and dissipate when they reach land or when the surrounding atmospheric conditions change, which does not mean they lack danger for small vessels that happen to be in their path.

The two-waterspout phenomenon in the Diapontia Islands coincides with wider instability recorded across southern Greece, where a low-pressure system with increased flood risk has been recorded. In Corfu, unsettled weather has already affected residents’ daily life in another way, as power outages have been scheduled on the island from 16 to 18 September. This coincidence heightens attention among residents and visitors in the Diapontia Islands, an area with limited permanent population but increased tourist traffic during the summer and early autumn months. The recording of such phenomena through citizen accounts also highlights the role of local communities in providing timely information about unusual weather events, especially in island areas where official meteorological coverage is sparser.

No official announcement has so far been made by local authorities in Corfu regarding the two waterspouts, nor has any special warning been issued for the Diapontia Islands area. It remains unknown whether similar phenomena will be recorded in the coming days, as unstable conditions in the Ionian, according to the same report, were continuing even after Wednesday morning. Visitors and residents of the area remain on alert, while the weather’s progress on the island is being monitored closely through official bulletins. Further information on the weather in the wider area is expected from upcoming meteorological updates, as well as any new details from Corfu’s local authorities.