Rare Waterspout Vortex Spotted Over Boston's Pleasure Bay

Meteorologists believe the unusual spinning column of air may have been caused by the exhaust from low-flying aircraft landing at nearby Logan Airport.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 9:23am

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A viewer in Walpole, Massachusetts captured footage of a rare waterspout-like vortex forming over the waters of Pleasure Bay near Boston's Castle Island. Meteorologists believe the unusual spinning column of air may have been caused by the exhaust from low-flying aircraft landing at nearby Logan Airport, based on a similar incident reported in the same location three years prior.

Why it matters

Waterspouts are uncommon in the Boston area, and this event has sparked interest among weather experts who are analyzing the potential factors that could have led to the formation of this rare atmospheric phenomenon over an urban coastal setting.

The details

The footage shows a swirling vortex of air and water forming over Pleasure Bay, with the direction of rotation appearing to be clockwise, which is opposite of what is typically seen in tornado-like funnels. Meteorologists suspect the vortex may have been triggered by the exhaust from low-flying aircraft landing at Logan Airport, which is located just north of the bay, based on a similar incident reported in the same area three years ago when planes were landing on Runway 4.

  • The video was captured around 6:30 AM on April 8, 2026.
  • A viewer named Eddy reported seeing a similar waterspout-like event in the same location about three years ago.

The players

Eddy

A viewer who previously reported seeing a similar weather phenomenon in the same location around Pleasure Bay about three years ago.

A.J. Burnett

A meteorologist with KCRA news who analyzed the video and provided insights on the potential causes of the unusual vortex.

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What they’re saying

“If you keenly look at this video, the closer vortex seems to be spinning clockwise, which is opposite what a tornado or any sort of funnel mostly would be doing. Normally those are, you know, counter or excuse me, clockwise. These are clockwise rotating systems.”

— A.J. Burnett, Meteorologist

What’s next

Meteorologists will continue to analyze the video and weather data to better understand the factors that led to the formation of this rare atmospheric event over Boston's Pleasure Bay.

The takeaway

This rare waterspout vortex over Boston's Pleasure Bay highlights the complex interplay between urban environments, aviation, and local weather patterns, sparking interest among weather experts to further investigate the potential factors behind this unusual atmospheric phenomenon.