Waterspouts are tornado-like weather events that form close to the coast (Image: @DavidKentNature)

       A massive waterspout has been photographed forming off the Kent coast as the UK is expected to have a month's worth of rain dumped on the country this weekend.

       The huge twister, reaching from the sea to the sky, appeared around 3pm on Thursday close to the village of Littlestone, near Dungeness, on the English Channel coast.

       These photographs show the enormous funnel of the weather phenomenon dwarf a pair of people watching it close to the shore.

       Waterspouts are so-called because they form over water, usually seen in areas close to the coast.

       Unlike their much more powerful land-based tornado cousins, the winds in waterspouts usually only reach around 60mph but they are classed as a threat to shipping and aircraft.

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       Two onlookers can be seen watching the phenomenon (Image: @DavidKentNature)

       This striking photograph was taken by David, who did not wish to give his last name, who took the images of the meteorological marvel during a day at the coast.

       He said: “This is the first time I’ve seen a waterspout, put it this way, the way it was circling I walked back to my car quite rapidly.

       “It developed off-shore but then it appeared to be coming in my direction, but of course it weakened quite rapidly.

       “I noticed the weather getting very interesting about 3.10pm but the waterspout itself was all over in about 10 minutes.

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       The striking weather event happened off the Kent coast (Image: @DavidKentNature)

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       “I think it probably developed just off-shore, it was quite a large storm area that went over Littlestone, and this was part of that.”

       David added that he thought Littlestone may have received some light damage in the storm but that he was sure the waterspout didn’t turn into a tornado on land.

       It's reported this is the first time this year waterspouts have been spotted off the Kent coast.

       In Miami, United States, in May a waterspout crashed into Hollywood Beach in the city.

       The spout itself dissipated before making landfall but several beachgoers were injured from high winds that scattered beach chairs and tables.

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