Dust Devils

Dust devils are small, rotating columns of air that form when warm, loose surface soil heats up and causes air to rise. As the rising air creates an upward draft, surrounding cooler air begins to spin into it, forming a spinning vortex or column. These are typically harmless, short-lived phenomena, often seen in dry, dusty areas on hot days. Dust devils can vary in size from a few feet to hundreds of feet tall and are driven by uneven heating of the ground, turbulence, and temperature differences near the surface.