My favorite views from the boat are those of storms over the ocean. The mountainous clouds making up massive thunderheads are especially beautiful. Off the coast of Florida these are especially common, and often times dark sheets of rain can be seen; from afar. The precipitation in these cloud banks looks like a painting.

Today we were treated to some amazing views like these, and to our delight a couple thin membranes touched down in the distance: water spouts. One grew large enough to see the interior motion of the water and the spray at the ocean surface. The spouts lasted for about 10 minutes and then faded away. A cool breeze made the deck a perfect place to be. This may not be the case in the next few hours although there is still potential for a nice sunset. The weather here changes quickly.

By Dylan Wilford, UNH Graduate Student.