Waterspouts are generally a warm-season phenomenon, appearing over large bodies of water like Lake Superior. Saturday afternoon (December 7), multiple cold air waterspouts were spotted near Knife River, north of Duluth on the Minnesota North Shore.

Waterspouts this time of year are extremely rare, but the incredible temperature difference between the subzero air and above-freezing lake water combined with breezy conditions to spawn multiple "water tornadoes" or waterspouts.

This isn't the first time in recent history waterspouts have been seen on Lake Superior near the Twin Ports. In August of last year, a waterspout formed over Lake Superior (see photos here) and made landfall, eventually being declared a historic Twin Ports tornado (see story here).

Watch Video of Multiple Waterspouts Over Lake Superior Near Knife River

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