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VIDEO: Tornado shocks Marbella as torrential rain falls in Spain

Alex Dunham
Alex Dunham - alex.dunham@thelocal.com
VIDEO: Tornado shocks Marbella as torrential rain falls in Spain
These sea tornadoes occur when there are severe thunderstorms. Photo: James Alcock/AFP

A tornadic waterspout surprised residents of the southern city of Marbella on Wednesday, as heavy rain began to flood the province of Málaga.

Spain’s latest DANA storm is beginning to show its force in the city of Marbella, as at 11am on Wednesday what’s known as a huge waterspout or tornadic waterspout was recorded out at sea close to Cable Beach.

Tornadic waterspouts are tornadoes that form over water, or move from land to water.

They have the same traits as a land tornado and they are associated with severe thunderstorms such as the current DANA sweeping through Málaga and other parts of Spain’s Mediterranean Coast.

READ ALSO: What exactly is Spain's 'DANA' weather phenomenon?

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According to Marbella authorities, at least one waterspout has occurred during the morning.

They stressed that this atmospheric phenomenon is characterised by “becoming a tornado when it reaches land”, although Marbella City Council has clarified that “it dissolved” when it touched land.

In Spanish, a tornadic waterspout is called una manga marina.

READ ALSO: What do Spain's orange and red weather alerts mean for the public?

These sea tornados are actually a fairly common phenomenon in the Alboran Sea - where Marbella is located - especially during the autumn months.

Marbella is on red weather alert on Wednesday, as is the rest of Málaga province, due to the 120 litres per square metres that are expected over a 12-hour period.

LATEST: Heavy rain starts to hit Málaga as Spain floods again

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