What Causes Dust Devils? Understanding This Unique Weather Phenomenon

What is it about dust devils that is so interesting to watch? Maybe it's that you can watch a junior varsity tornado and not have to worry about your house blowing away. This past Saturday in Saragosa, Texas, a huge dust devil was caught on camera, and you can check out the footage by scrolling to the bottom of this article.

Dust devils aren’t as dangerous as tornadoes, but they’re still pretty impressive to see. They form on hot, sunny days when the ground gets really warm. That hot air rises quickly, and the temperature difference can cause the air to start spinning if there's cooler air above it. Add in some loose dirt and dry conditions, and boom! You’ve got a swirling column of dust racing across the ground.

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Spinning Dust Devil Moves Through Texas Land

Meteorologists noted that the weather conditions on Saturday were perfect for such a phenomenon. The region had experienced a week of rising temperatures, and the dry earth provided ample loose dust to be swept into the air.

Nobody was really in any danger except maybe getting some dirt and debris in their face, but it is advised to stay far back when they get to this size. That is, unless you are not worried about taking a rock to an eyeball!