Video: Rare waterspout forms off Australia A water spout is like a tornado but less harmful. They are formed when a high layer of cold air blows across a body of water, either the ocean, a lake or a river and clashes with the warm air below. Inside the spout, winds can reach speeds of up to 62.1 miles an hour. They have also been known to pick up various sea-life and dump it on land. Water spouts generally break up when they hit land fall. The rare sight was also captured on a mobile phone by Australian Joel Sacha.