Incredible footage shows water flowing upwards - after waves were caught in a 'sea vortex'

Footage has captured the amazing moment that water flowed upwards - caused by waves caught in a sea vortex.

Samy Jacobsen, 41, was walking along the cliffs off Suðuroy in the Faroe Islands on Monday, when he spotted a whirlwind of water rising from the waves.

Video grab from the amazing footage of water flowing upwards on the  cliffs off Suðuroy in the Faroe Islands - a phenomenon known as a water spout. See SWNS story SWOCvortex. This is the incredible moment water flowed UPWARDS - after waves were caught in a rare sea vortex. Samy Jacobsen, 41, was out walking along the cliffs off Suðuroy in the Faroe Islands when he spotted a whirlwind of water rising from the waves. He watched as the vortex of spray climbed up the side of the 470m sea cliff - known as Beinisvørð - and billowing on to the cliff top, on Monday. Weather experts said it was a water spout - a spiralling pillar of air - which forms like a tornado over the water when a cliff edge spins the wind in a circle.
Samy Jacobsen, 41, was out walking along the cliffs off Suðuroy in the Faroe Islands when he spotted a whirlwind of water rising from the waves (SWNS)

The video shows the vortex sea water climb up the side of the 470m sea cliff - known as Beinisvørð - before splashing on to the cliff top.

Weather experts believe the vortex was a water spout.

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The spout, a spiralling pillar of air, forms like a tornado over the water when a cliff edge spins the wind in a circle.

Mr Jacobsen said: "I saw something being blown up into the air from that area before but I have never investigated it. In the vicinity there are many small rivers that defy gravity in stormy conditions and an awful lot of sea water is blown up and travels pretty far up land.

Video grab from the amazing footage of water flowing upwards on the  cliffs off Suðuroy in the Faroe Islands - a phenomenon known as a water spout. See SWNS story SWOCvortex. This is the incredible moment water flowed UPWARDS - after waves were caught in a rare sea vortex. Samy Jacobsen, 41, was out walking along the cliffs off Suðuroy in the Faroe Islands when he spotted a whirlwind of water rising from the waves. He watched as the vortex of spray climbed up the side of the 470m sea cliff - known as Beinisvørð - and billowing on to the cliff top, on Monday. Weather experts said it was a water spout - a spiralling pillar of air - which forms like a tornado over the water when a cliff edge spins the wind in a circle.
Weather experts believe it was a water spout which forms like a tornado over the water (SWNS)

"So it is not always easy to tell what it is. I sent it to some friends and they all thought that it was very beautiful and special."

Greg Dewhurst senior operational meteorologist at the Met Office described the phenomenon as "spectacular", saying: "To us here in the operations centre it looks like a water spout (a spiralling pillar of air), which is a little like a tornado but it forms over the water.

Video grab from the amazing footage of water flowing upwards on the  cliffs off Suðuroy in the Faroe Islands - a phenomenon known as a water spout. See SWNS story SWOCvortex. This is the incredible moment water flowed UPWARDS - after waves were caught in a rare sea vortex. Samy Jacobsen, 41, was out walking along the cliffs off Suðuroy in the Faroe Islands when he spotted a whirlwind of water rising from the waves. He watched as the vortex of spray climbed up the side of the 470m sea cliff - known as Beinisvørð - and billowing on to the cliff top, on Monday. Weather experts said it was a water spout - a spiralling pillar of air - which forms like a tornado over the water when a cliff edge spins the wind in a circle.
Video grab from the amazing footage of water flowing upwards on the cliffs off Suðuroy in the Faroe Islands - a phenomenon known as a water spout. (SWNS)

“The cliff edge is helping to spin the wind around and we think this is why it forms quite quickly.”

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