A small waterspout spun up along Lake Pontchartrain on Friday morning, startling some New Orleans metro residents during their early commute.

The waterspout was reported crossing near the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway Bridge north of Metairie, just before 8:30 a.m., according to the National Weather Service. There were no reports of the water spout crossing over onto land or causing any property damage.

A waterspout is a whirling column of air and water mist that circles together, according to NOAA. Though they can sometimes move onto land and cause tornado activity, most often they dissipate rapidly.

Several residents and local meteorologists raced to social media to share images and videos of the swirling cloud, including Fox 8 meteorologist Zack Fradella, former WDSU chief meteorologis

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