A small surface generated vortex storm (or whirlwind) that occurs in deserts and other locations where the ground is very hot. Dust devils resemble tiny tornados, but are caused by convective processes, and they produce significantly less damage than tornados - in many cases they cause no damage of consequence.
A well-developed dust whirl, a small but vigorous whirlwind, usually of short duration. Dust devils are best-developed on hot, calm afternoons with clear skies, in a dry region where intense heating can occur. They are harmless and very weak, but are able to pick up small stones and other debris from the ground.
A rapidly rotating column of air carrying dust, leaves and other light-weight material; dust devils usually develop during hot, sunny days over dry and dusty or sandy areas. -- El Nino A large-scale warming of the tropical eastern Pacific waters near the the coast of South America, typically felt during winter months, with global weather impacts. Occur in cycles varying in length from one to ten years. Signals from past El Nino events show trends for above normal precipitation and above normal temperatures in winter months over the Pacific Northwest. -- Flash Flood A flood that occurs within a few hours (usually less than six) of heavy or excessive rainfall, dam or levee failure.
An atmospheric vortex caused by differential surface heating. Air near the ground is heated by the surface and rises through cooler air aloft. Dust devils pick up fine particles from the surface and thus are made visible. Dust devils on Earth are typically on the order of meters across and are capable of causing minor damage. Martian dust devils are larger.
a miniature whirlwind strong enough to whip dust and leaves and litter into the air
an atmospheric whirlwind that looks a lot like a small tornado
a small and vigorous but usually short-lived whirlwind
a small rotating updraft, often observed in times of atmospheric turbulence
a vortex of dust-filled air created by extreme surface heating
a wind-generated vortex, or whirlpool in the atmosphere
A small but intense vortex made visible by dust or debris ( dust whirl), which forms in response to surface heating during fair, hot weather. Dust devils are most frequent in arid or semi-arid regions.
A small transient whirlwind; a rapidly rotating column of air that swirls dust, debris and sand to great heights, and superficially resembles a small tornado. Caused by superheated air above a sun-baked ground that rises into cooler air aloft. Sometimes also called a whirling dervish.
a spinning vortex of sand and dust that is usually harmless but may grow quite large. Also called a whirlwind.
A small atmospheric vortex not associated with a thunderstorm, which is made visible by a rotating cloud of dust or debris (dust whirl). Dust devils form in response to surface heating during fair, hot weather; they are most frequent in arid or semi-arid regions.
Also called a "whirlwind". A small but rapidly rotating wind made visible by the dust, sand and debris it picks up from the surface. It develops best on clear, dry, hot afternoons. It extends from the ground up but does NOT connect with a cumulus clouds. A Dust Devil is often confused with a tornado... whose vortex extends from the ground INTO a cumulus cloud.
A small, whirling column of wind that picks up dirt and other loose material as it travels.
A small, rapidly rotating wind that is made visible by the dust, dirt or debris it picks up. Also called a whirlwind, it develops best on clear, dry, hot afternoons.
a small, short-lived dust vortex that whirls along at 20 mph (3 kph) and about 1,640 feet (500 m) up in the air; created by ground heating
A well-developed dust whirl; a small but vigorous whirlwind, usually of short duration, rendered visible by dust, sand, and debris picked up from the ground. Dust devils occasionally are strong enough to cause minor damage (up to F1 on the Fujita scale). Diameters range from about 3 m to greater than 30 m; their average height is about 200 m, but a few have been observed as high as 1 km or more. They have been observed to rotate anticyclonically as well as cyclonically. Although the vertical velocity is predominantly upward, the flow along the axis of large dust devils may be downward. Large dust devils may also contain secondary vortices. Dust devils are best developed on a hot, calm afternoon with clear skies, in a dry region when intense surface heating causes a very steep lapse rate of temperature in the lowest 100 m of the atmosphere.
A small, rapidly rotating column of wind, made visible by the dust, dirt or debris it picks up. It usually occurs in arid or semi-arid areas and is most likely to develop on clear, dry, hot afternoons in response to surface heating.
A dust devil or whirlwind is a rotating updraft, ranging from small (half a meter wide and a few meters tall) to large (over 10 meters wide and over 1000 meters tall). In the southwestern United States, dust devils can be known as dancing devils. In Death Valley, California, they may be called a sand auger or dust whirl.
Dust Devil is a 1993 horror film written and directed by Richard Stanley. The film was described by one critic as being like "Tarkovsky on acid".