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Waterspouts spotted off Darwin coast

A number of waterspouts have been spotted over Darwin Harbour this morning.

Senior forecaster at the Bureau of Meteorology, Graeme King, said there were reports of up to four of the twisters forming off the coast.

"There was more than one - probably three or four we are getting told now," he said.

"So one good one and a few smaller ones."

He said water spouts were not strong enough to suck up fish or boats.

"I think they are a little bit weak for that," he said.

"I know there's reports of tornadoes doing that, but waterspouts are a really, really weak cousin to tornadoes."

He said there was a chance of a shower or thunderstorm in Darwin this afternoon.

"What those waterspouts do tell us is it's unstable.

"Whether we actually get [a storm] the next couple of days is not guaranteed.

"It becomes a bit more guaranteed next week by the looks of it."

A 105.7 ABC Darwin listener who was fishing on the harbour said the largest waterspout looked like something more menacing.

"It looked like an American tornado sort of thing, but in a smaller [way]," he said.

Water spouts sweep Darwin Harbour