JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A strong storm moved across Fernandina Beach and Cumberland Island on Sunday afternoon, producing heavy rainfall and several waterspouts just off the coast.

One of the waterspouts was spotted around noon by Melissa Freeman, a First Coast News Weather Watcher, looking north from Fort Clinch. No damage was reported, though the National Weather Service had issued a warning for possible waterspouts in the area at the time.

The storm brought significant rainfall to Fernandina Beach, forcing police to close several roads, including portions of South 3rd, Gum and Elm streets. On South 3rd near Gum Street, one vehicle was nearly submerged in floodwaters. West of Fernandina, rainfall reports near Yulee measured more than 4 inches in about an hour.

Waterspouts are essentially tornadoes that form over water. They typically develop when warm, humid air near the surface rises quickly into cooler air above, creating a column of rotating winds. The contrast between the warm ocean surface and unstable atmospheric conditions provides the energy needed to spin up the funnel, which can form rapidly during strong thunderstorms.

Having two waterspouts side by side is not unheard of, but it is a rare sight to capture.