Photos capture waterspout during storms near Hervey Bay on the Fraser Coast

Incredible images of tornado-like spouts off the Qld coast on Saturday have been captured as a meteorologist explains the phenomena.

An epic image of waterspout which formed near Hervey Bay on Saturday. Picture: Deb Edwards

Incredible photos showing a storm-charged spectacle off the Fraser Coast have emerged after a waterspout formed amid 24 hours of weather chaos across the state.

Much of southeast Queensland was battered by large weather systems on Friday however several eagled eyed locals at Hervey Bay captured the stunning sight of a waterspout off Urangan early on Saturday morning.

The image depicted what looked like a mini water tornado forming with ferocity offshore, with dark clouds in its wake.

“Wow! Swirly thing alert,” Deb Edwards revealed on the Hervey Bay Community Noticeboard Community page.

“We are in East Booral, looks like it was between Big Woody and Urangan maybe? Lasted quite a while.”

The sight was similar to that seen on the Brisbane River on Friday afternoon, with footage capturing a wild mini-tornado sweeping down the river while the city was dumped by heavy rain and hail.

The waterspout which formed just off of Hervey Bay this morning. Picture: Deb Edwards

Bureau of Meteorology's Angus Hines said a small system formed in the early hours of Saturday morning which moved north in “almost a little semi-circle” formation around Hervey Bay.

The senior meteorologist said the system contained a few showers early which led to lightning strikes. It moved from the Great Sandy Strait up to the southern part of K’Gari (formerly Fraser Island) before making its way past Hervey Bay and then to Burrum Heads.

Mr Hines said it was not a severe weather system but still created wind gusts and would have been strong enough to create the water spout on Saturday.

He said some of the key elements to a waterspout included “very tall and active” winds moving in a “vigorous” upwards and downwards motion within the clouds.

“When you get winds at different directions meeting each other, in the bottom one kilometre of the atmosphere is where the waterspouts are created from converging winds,” Mr Hines said.

The weather storm pushed north from the Great Sandy Strait. Picture: Joshua Evans

The view from a boat in the Great Sandy Strait. Picture: Dave Tree

“When they’re over the water they can whip up a lot of sea spray and we can get those waterspouts.”

The senior meteorologist said they were often compared to tornadoes, with both natural wonders having similar rotating columns of air.

However, he said waterspouts were often weaker and short lived over bodies of water.

Ms Edwards’ post quickly drew hundreds of reactions, with responses ranging from “incredible” to “awesome”, as many enjoyed the “swirly thing” description.

Janelle Dunn recalled “seeing a similar waterspout off Pt Vernon in the early 70s”.

“Had quite the impact on us kids at the time,” she said.

The waterspout pictured in the distance with the Hervey Bay Boat Club in the foreground. Picture: Bec Marks

Alana Schutz wrote: “I remember living on the waterfront in Urangan, down by the pier when my child was a baby.

“Was sleeping and woke to extreme rattling windows and a noise like no other.

“Found out later that morning it was a waterspout that went past my building and it ripped the roofing of the house further down the street off.

“Fortunately, I was living in a solid unit.”

Others enjoyed the “swirly thing” description which encompassed the usual debate on whether the phenomena in Australian waters could accurately be called a tornado, twister, waterspout or a “willy willy”.

In response, Deb joked “too much television”.

“Used to be a silly UK sci-fi show called Red Dwarf – they had a ‘swirly thing alert’ at some stage while floating around in space,” she said.

“Become part of our language now.”