Incredible moment a massive waterspout descended on Italian coastal town of Genoa

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These amazing pictures show the moment when a giant water tornado hits the coast of Italy.

The series of snaps show the stormy skies over Genoa, Italy, as the tornado, known as a waterspout when occurring over water, sweeps over the sea. 

Dark, blustery clouds can be seen filling the sky as the twister hits the ocean, with dramatic flashes of lightening and rumbles of thunder taking place in the background.

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We are now beginning out descent: The enormous water tornado hits the sea just off the coast of Italy

No escape: As the tornado moves closer to the Italian coastal town, it grows in size and power

This incredible image, as well as the others showing the tornado, were taken by Russian Evgeny Drokov, who was on holiday in Genoa

A tornado is a column of air rotating at extreme speed, which reaches from a storm cloud to the surface, creating a wind tunnel. 

The winds of a tornado can reach speeds of up to 300 miles per hour (480km per hour) and although most last for less than ten minutes, travelling just a few miles, in extreme cases they can last for hours.   

The dramatic pictures were caught on camera by Evgeny Drokov, from Russia, who was on holiday in Genoa with his family. 

Nature power: Tornadoes are violently rotating columns of air that reach from a storm cloud to the earth's surface - or in this case the sea

Phenomenon: If, such as in this case, a tornado occurs over water, it is known as a waterspout

At the speed of light: The winds of a tornado can reach speeds of up to 300 miles per hour (480km per hour)

Mr Drokov, 41, said: 'I've never seen anything like this before! It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, we were about two kilometres away from the tornado on our balcony.

'It was our last morning of family vacation in Genoa before driving back home. We had been packing the bags, and then the show began!

'We could see it so well because the apartment house is located on the heel at a distance - there wasn't much rain at the time, it was pure luck.' 

Although most tornadoes last for less than ten minutes, travelling just a few miles, in extreme cases they can last for hours

Thunderbolt and lightning: The skies virtually open above Genoa as rain falls over the city

Very very frightening: Lighting strikes off the coast of the city as the storm sweeps in over Genoa