In pictures: Extreme weather conditions hit northern and western Syria

Arab Weather - On Sunday, April 12, 2026, large areas of northern and western Syria were exposed to extreme weather conditions, as a result of the region being affected by a low-pressure system in the upper atmosphere, coinciding with the availability of large amounts of moisture in the different atmospheric layers, which led to the emergence of a strong state of atmospheric instability.

In detail, this situation caused the formation of dense thunderclouds over many areas, accompanied at times by heavy rainfall, hail showers, and strong and sudden winds that stirred up dust and sand, especially in desert areas, leading to the formation of local sandstorms and a significant decrease in horizontal visibility.

The "Arab Weather" team monitored many images and videos on social media platforms that documented the severity of the weather conditions, as the scenes showed the strength of the cumulonimbus clouds and the violent weather phenomena that accompanied them.

One of the most notable phenomena that has been documented is the appearance of a waterspout off the Syrian coast, a remarkable weather phenomenon that is a type of funnel cloud, but it forms over bodies of water.

What is a waterspout?

A waterspout is a rotating column of air that extends from the base of cumulonimbus clouds toward the sea surface or a body of water, accompanied by strong rotational motion. This phenomenon arises due to temperature differences and significant atmospheric instability, combined with wind shear (a change in wind speed or direction with altitude).

These conditions cause the air to begin rotating horizontally, then it is drawn upwards within the thundercloud to become a vertical rotation, forming an air column that may be visible as a water funnel connecting the cloud to the sea surface.

Waterspouts are usually less intense than tornadoes that hit land, but they can pose a danger to maritime navigation and fishermen, especially if they approach coasts or intensify.

This case is a clear example of the strength of atmospheric instability in the spring, where different air masses intersect, leading to the emergence of severe and sometimes sudden weather phenomena.

And God knows best.