How Is a Dust Devil Form?

Dust devils form when a pocket of hot air near the surface rises quickly through cooler air above it, forming an updraft. If conditions are just right, the updraft may begin to rotate.

What are the signs of a dust devil?

An example of a dust devil can be seen to the left. These dust-filled vortices, created by strong surface heating, are generally smaller and less intense than a tornado. Typical diameters of dust devils range from 10 to 300 feet, with an average height of approximately 500 to 1000 feet.

Where do dust devils usually start?

A dust devil usually forms in an area of flat terrain on a warm and sunny to mostly sunny afternoon, with light winds and colder air aloft in the atmosphere. The sun will heat the surface causing air at surface level to warm more rapidly than the area further aloft.